EXTON ELEMENTARY HOMEROOM PARENT OVERVIEW 2019 – 2020  

Thank you for being a Homeroom Parent!  Below is information that will help you during the year.     

1. As soon as possible,​ ​get in touch with your teacher to find out his/her preference for class parties....dates, times, types of activities desired, number of  parent volunteers they’re willing to have in their classroom, food allergies, etc.  You can also ask if siblings are welcome at the classroom parties.  Last, find out if  there are other class events which require the help of the homeroom parents.    
2. Using the directory, obtain parent email addresses, and please send an  introductory letter to the parents stating the dates and times of the parties, and  whether siblings are welcome. Please communicate that as the parties  approach, you will use sign up genius to solicit parent volunteers, and will be looking for someone to take pictures at the parties to send to the yearbook.  Please be sure to include as many parents as possible throughout the year  without playing favorites.    
3. Please remember to communicate with your class parents during the year.  Remind them about party dates, thank them for their participation, let them  know what was purchased with gift donations, etc.  Email is the quickest way to  do this and, to protect people's privacy, please use BCC.  Remember - any time an  email is sent to the class, a hard copy should be sent to those parents who have  not given you an email address.     
4. Sample letters/forms will be emailed to you to help facilitate your communication.  They have been reviewed by Dr. Alston; she does not need to review them again if you choose to use them in their entirety or personalize them to your needs.  However, information distributed to your entire class via handout and/or e-mail that is not covered in the sample letters must be reviewed by the homeroom parent team.
5. The head homeroom parent facilitates communication between the teacher,  the homeroom parents and other parents in the class.  This parent may lead in  coordinating the class parties and other activities, but all homeroom parents  should be actively involved in planning events.  In some classes, each parent  takes responsibility for a party so that the planning does not fall onto one parent;  others divide each party by specific area (craft, game, etc); yet others decide that  one will be "head" for parties, another for class communication, another for teacher gifts, etc.  However, there still needs to be one parent who acts as the  main contact with the Homeroom Committee. 
6. Please speak to your teacher to find out his/her preference for parent  volunteers and siblings at parties.   Even if your teacher has an open volunteer  policy, please make sure each parent volunteering for a party has a job to do  during the party.   Volunteers should be focused on helping the students, not  chatting on the sidelines.     
7. Remember, being a HRP does not mean you can just stop by your child's  classroom any time you choose.  It can be distracting to teachers and students  alike and is contrary to Exton Elementary Volunteer Guidelines. 
8. Food Policy – There are district mandates regarding food and snacks in school.  The Wellness Policy ​must be​ adhered to.  The Wellness Policy is included in the  documents emailed to you.
9. Allergies - Please find out from the teacher what your class allergies are.  When  planning for food, please do not plan ANYTHING that someone has an allergy to.  Serving food at a party that one child is allergic to is dangerous to that child and  is not allowed.  It is also not acceptable to ask the parents of a child with an  allergy to supply their own snack- this does not promote an inclusive  environment.  We MUST plan around the allergies.  We all know that can be  challenging, so please reach out to any of our committee members if you need ideas.  Please inform the teacher about what foods you plan to serve at a party.  We are here to help!  And also remember that food at parties is not a  requirement!  Lots of fun can be had without any snack at all!

HOMEROOM PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES 

1.​    ​Classroom Parties 

There will be a maximum of three parties during the school year where food can be  served. Confirm the dates and times with your teacher.  Parties are typically a Fall  Party in October (usually on or near Halloween), a Winter Party in December (winter  themed usually on or near the last day before winter break),  a Valentine’s Day Party  in February or an end-of-year party.   Not every teacher celebrates the parties that  are listed, so be sure to confirm with your teacher.   Find out your teacher's party  guidelines or requests, including the number of parent volunteers he/she would like  at each party.     

You will need to provide materials and supplies for crafts, games, and snacks for  each party.  Please include all the parents in your classroom when soliciting help and  supplies, and don’t wait until the last minute to do so.  While some parents do not  have time to volunteer, they may be willing to send in drinks, game items, paper  products, or small denomination ($5) gift certificates or cash to purchase specific  game/craft supplies for the party.   We highly recommend using  www.signupgenius.com​ ​to help with this.   Even though it may be easier to collect  money and purchase everything yourself, please remember that when a child sees  their parents involved with sending in plates or napkins, it is beneficial to that child.  So please, take the extra time and create a sign up. 

New this year, we are asking you to include volunteer spaces in your sign-up genius.  You can include a comment requesting parents contact you if they would like to  volunteer but all slots are full.  That way you can be sure they have a spot at the next  party, or change spots with a parent who has volunteered at previous parties.   This  likely won’t be an issue, but we want to be sure every parent who would like to  volunteer has the opportunity to do so.   Again, please confirm the number of  volunteers allowed with your teacher and be sure every volunteer has a specific job  at the party.   

A few days prior to the party, please email Kathy Nagorny with a list of parent  volunteers so she can have badges ready the day of the party.    Remind parents to  bring their license if they have not been activated in the Raptor System for the  school year.     

Every parent should know the date and time of the parties, regardless of whether or  not they are a volunteer for that party.   Also, a reminder that all parents must be  communicated with.  If you don’t have their emails, you must send in hard copies of  emails and Sign Up Genius forms. You can send it in an envelope and ask your child’s  teacher to send it home with their child.    

2.​    ​Teacher Appreciation 

Teacher Appreciation Day will be celebrated late April/early May and is for honoring  our teachers. You can decide how you wish to celebrate your individual teacher;  however, we ask that you keep your plans simple. An email with further  information, including the exact date, will be sent to you in early spring.      

3.​    ​Teacher Gifts 

We recommend that you collect for class gifts during the year; most classes collect  before the Winter holiday and the end of the school year. You may also want to  provide a small token of appreciation on your teacher’s Birthday and during Teacher  Appreciation week. Gift ideas include gift cards or hand-crafted keepsakes from the
class. We have included a "Get to Know You” form in the documents that are  emailed to     

4.​    ​Special Grade-Level Events 

Some grade levels have specific activities/events (ex: Polar Express in 1​st​ grade) that  the Homeroom Parents plan and coordinate together with the teachers.  Please find out from your teacher if there are special events in your grade level.    

5.​    ​Assistance with Raffle Gift Baskets for Spring Fair 

It will be the responsibility of the homeroom parent team to work with the Spring  Fair team to put together a basket for the Spring Fair children’s raffle.  Each class  may create their own basket, or work together as an entire grade to collect money for larger ticket items.  Classes may select their own theme, but must submit their theme to the Spring Fair team to ensure we don’t have multiple baskets of the same theme.    

6.​     ​Red Tree Press 

The homeroom parent team will need to coordinate with classroom parents and the  Red Tree Press Volunteers to assist with typing Red Tree Press books for their class.  A sign-up genius sent by the homeroom parent team is an easy way to accomplish  this. 

7.​    ​Photographs for Yearbook 

This has always been a homeroom parent responsibility, but this year we ask that  one member of the homeroom parent team take responsibility for getting pictures  to the yearbook team. The parent can either take pictures and send them to the  yearbook committee themselves, or they may assign a specific parent to do so.  The homeroom parent must follow up to make sure that pictures are being sent. We ask this to alleviate the last-minute calls for pictures so that all grades and classes are represented throughout the book.     

Thank you for volunteering! If you have questions, please call or email a member of the Homeroom Parent Committee.  Have a great year!!     

HOMEROOM PARENT TO-DOs 

• Contact your teacher to find out party dates, times, and party/volunteer guidelines. 
• Send an Introduction Letter to your class parents edited with your specific  information and parties/dates    
• Send Getting To Know Our Teacher form to your teacher   
• Get contact information for every class parent – emails will be especially helpful when sending communications about parties, Sign-Up Genius emails and teacher gifts
• Decide how you want to communicate with each other to plan parties and divvy-up homeroom responsibilities. 
• Involve as many different class parents as possible.
• Communicate with your class parents during the course of the year. 
• Remember your teacher’s birthday!
• Contact the homeroom committee if you have any questions or concerns.
• Bring your camera and send photos to the Yearbook Committee.
• Have fun!!!

• HRP Overview 2019-20.pdf