MT.HOREBSCHOOL

CLASSPARENTHANDBOOK2018–2019

ShiningBrighterEveryDay

Mt.HorebElementarySchool

80Mt.HorebRoad

Warren,NJ07059

(908)753-5300

CLASSPARENTHANDBOOK

Introduction

GettingStarted

EstablishingaLinkwithYourClassCommunity

ClassParentResponsibilities

• Parties • FieldDay • TeacherAppreciationWeek• Photography • SocialMedia • GradeLevelEvents • BookFair • TeacherGifts• Expenses• PhoneChain

Attachments

• GenericWelcomeLetter AttachmentA• DistrictSnackPolicy AttachmentB• HomeroomParentChecklist AttachmentC

INTRODUCTIONThank you for volunteering as aMt. Horeb Class Parent. Your role as a Class Parent helpsensureaparentcommunity that is informed,engagedand involved inschool functions. ThisHandbookprovides informationonyourresponsibilitiesasaClassParentand includesschoolpoliciesandproceduresforyourreference.

IMPORTANTNOTE:

AsClassParent,youmaybecomeawareofpersonalinformationrelatingtoachild/familyintheclass.Thisinformationisconfidentialandmustbekeptconfidentialandotherwisehandledinaprofessionalmanner.Ifyouhavequestionsorneedadvice,pleasecontacttheExecutiveBoard.

ExecutiveBoard:StacySackett Phone: 993-650-3083Co-President Email: delstay@aol.comDarbyFinkelstein Phone: 773-710-2388Co-President Email: darbyfinkelstein@yahoo.comDarleneCarter Phone: 973-641-0808VP,Communications Email: darlene.carter@hotmail.com

JillParry Phone: 610-348-0218VP,Programing Email: fairmountjm@mac.com

DebraFinkelstein Phone: 908-347-1275Secretary Email: dsalz@lindenwarehouse.comToniAnnFeeney Phone: 781-608-1640Treasurer Email: tmurach@vt.edu

GETTINGSTARTEDTherewillbeameetingat thestartof the schoolyearwhereyouwillmeetwithotherClassParents,beprovidedwithyourclasslistandlearnmoreaboutyourresponsibilities.Tosimplifycommunications,aLeadClassParenthasbeenassignedforeachclass.TheLeadistheprimarycontact for the teacher and is generally responsible for coordinating class events andvolunteers.Prior to Back To SchoolNight, the PTOwill coordinate aHR Parent Luncheonwhen youwillhavetheopportunitytomeetwithyourteacherandoutlineyourplansfortheyear.

ESTABLISHINGALINKWITHYOURCLASSCOMMUNITYIt is important theparents inyourclassare familiarwithyouandyour role in theclass. Werecommendyousenda“welcomeletter”priortoBack-to-SchoolNight(seeAttachmentA).Inthis letter,youcanintroducebothClassParents,remindparentsofBacktoSchoolNight,andprovideyourcontactinformationandotherrelevantdetails.At Back-To-School Night, please introduce yourself and briefly explain your responsibilities(suchascoordinatingpartiesandgradespecificevents).Also,besuretohavetheClassPartysign-upsheetsavailablesoparentscanvolunteer tosupplypartygoodsandassistataparty.(See Attachment B and your welcome packet). It is suggested you also provide a formrequesting contact information for the parents in your class (emails and cell phones), in theeventtheinformationprovidedfromtheBoardofEducationisincomplete.

CLASSPARENTRESPONSIBILITIESPARTIESAllgradestypicallyhavethe followingparties:Halloween,DecemberHoliday,Valentine’sDayandEnd-of-Yearcelebration. Someclassesmayhaveadditionalcelebrationsandyoushouldcheckwithyourteacher.AstheClassParent,youareexpectedtoattendeachpartytoserverefreshments,organize thecraft /game,andassistwithotherpartyactivities. If youwillbeunable toattendanypartyorevent you should finda substitute, ifnecessary. Pleasemakeeveryattempttofindasubstitute,evenifitisthevolunteerwhoisnolongerabletoattendtheparty.Wedonotwantanymissedopportunitiesforparentstocomeintotheclassroomandspendtimewiththeirchildrenvolunteering.Attherequestoftheteacher,youmaybeaskedtoselectacraftand/orgamesfortheparties.Please try tomaintain contact between all grade level Homeroom Parents as you plan eachparty to ensure that there is consistency among the classes (for items such as crafts andgames). Whendecidingoncrafts,besensitivetoreligiousdiversityaswellastheskill level/attentionspanofyourparticulargrade.

AtBack to SchoolNight, youwill recruit parents to donate snacks andother party items foreachclassroomevent. Youwillalsoinviteparentstovolunteertoassistatapartyduringtheyear(oneadditionalparentateachparty).YourClassParentfolderhasformsforyoutouseforthispurpose.AttachedistheBOEapprovedlistofsnacks–whicharetheONLYsnackstobebroughtinforclassroom celebrations (see Attachment B). Items not included on this list will are notpermittedintheclassroom.Youwillbenotifiedifthereisafoodallergyinyourclass.Assomeallergies can be severe, you are to instruct parents making snack donations to avoid anyingredientsidentifiedasharmful.FIELDDAYTheFieldDayCommitteeisresponsiblefororganizingtheactivitiesforFieldDay.Iftherearenotenoughvolunteerstostafftheday,theClassParentswillberequiredtoassist.Pleasenote,forsafetyissues,younger(pre-school)siblingsarenotallowedtoaccompanyyouatfieldday.TEACHERAPPRECIATIONWEEKTheTeacherAppreciationCommitteeorganizestheeventsforthisweek. TheCommitteewillnotify you in advance of your responsibilities. For example, you may be asked to collectdonationsforgiftbaskets,coordinateclassprojectsfortheteacher,orhandleotheractivitiestosupport the Committee, such as overseeing decorations for your homeroom (e.g. decoratingyourteachersdoor).PHOTOGRPAHS

Asyouwillbeattendingclassparties,youmayopttotakephotographsforyourpersonaluseorfortheYearbook(anyYearbookphotosshouldbeforwardedtotheYearbookCommittee).Youmaynotpostonlineanypicturestaken intheclassroomunlessthepicture isofyourchildoryouhavespecificpermissionfromtheparent(s)ofotherchild(ren)inthephotograph.SOCIALMEDIAYouaretorefrainfrompostingpicturesonanysocialmediawebsiteswhileatschoolfunctions,orcommentingonanystudents,stafforvolunteersviasocialmedia.Pleaserespecteveryone’sprivacy.

GRADELEVELEVENTSomegradelevelshavea“specialevent”(e.g..“SailintoSecondGrade”)andyourteacherwillprovideyouwithinformationandanyspecificrequests. ThegradeleveleventsaresimilartoclasspartiesandyourresponsibilitiesasClassParentarethesame.

BOOKFAIRClassParentsmaybeaskedtoattendtheBookFairtoassistchildrenwithbookselectionandpurchases.TEACHERGIFTSClassparentsareresponsibleforcollectingclasscontributionsforholiday(December)andyear-end gifts for teachers and “specials” (such as gym,music, computers, etc.). Youwill receiveguidelines and instructions from the ExecutiveBoard at the appropriate time. Participationfrom parents in gifting is voluntary. Please do not name contributing families on the cardaccompanying the gift; instead, you can sign the card “from your students” (or somethingsimilar).EXPENSESThePTOallocatesmoneyonaperchild,pergradelevelbasis,whichisstrictlylimitedtouseforpurchasing party crafts and games. The lead Class Parent will be given money to be usedspecificallyforthispurposeatthebeginningoftheschoolyear.Allotherpartyitemsshouldbeprovidedanddonatedbytheparentswhosignuptobringintheitemsforthatparticularparty.PHONECHAINTheBoardofEducationusesanautomatedreverse911systemforemergencycommunicationregardingschoolclosingsetc. Intherare instancethissystemdoesnotwork,theEmergencyPhoneChain(includedwithyourpacket)willbeused.

GeneralInformation:- If youaregoingonvacationorwill beotherwiseunavailable for thephonechain,

pleasecoordinatecoveragewithyourfellowClassParentandnotifytheGradeLevelRepresentative.

- Notify theGradeLevelRepresentative if your contact informationchanges so thatwemayupdatethephonechain.

- Besuretokeepacopyofyourclasslisthandyandinasafeplaceforeasyaccess.

Ifthephonechainisactivated:- TheprincipalwillcontactthePTOPresidents- ThePTOPresidentswill thencontacteachGradeLevelRepresentative. TheGrade

LevelRepresentativewillcalltheLeadClassParents.- The LeadClassParent is to call all otherparents in the classwith the information

received.- Ifthereisnoanswer,oryouleaveavoicemailandyourcallisnotreturned,youare

tocalltheMainOffice.

ATTACHMENTA

DateDearParents:Welcometoanexcitingnewyear!WearehappytobeservingastheClassParentsfor(Teacher’sName,GradeLevel).Back-To-SchoolNightisscheduledfor(Weeknight,Date,andTime)andwearelookingforwardtomeetingyou.AsClassParents,wewillbeassisting(Teacher’sName)withorganizingclassparties.OnBack-To-SchoolNight,therewillbesign-upsheetsforeachpartyintheclassroom.Pleasehelpwhereyoucanbydonating;snacks,papergoods,games,etc.Youwillreceiveareminderphonecallore-mailfromoneofusaweekpriortothepartytoremindyouofyourresponsibility.YourClassParentswillalsoorganizepartycraftsandgameswith(Teacher’sName).Similartolastyear,therewillalsobesign-upsheetsforparentswhowanttovolunteerataparty–pleaseconsidervolunteering,itisagreatwaytoseeyouchildinclass!Duringthecourseoftheyear,youmaybecalledupontohelpwithvariousactivitiessuchasStaffAppreciationWeek,FieldDayorBookFair.Wemayalsocontactyouinthenextweekorsotomakesureemergencycontactinformationiscomplete.Inaddition,itwouldbehelpfulifyoucouldinformusofyoure-mailaddress,ase-mailisaconvenientmechanismforinformingyouofquickupdatestoschoolactivities.InNovemberwewillbecollectingforteachergiftsfortheholidayandendoftheyeargiftsfor(Teacher’sName).Wewillalsobecollectingforourspecialsteachers(Art,Library,PE,etc).Asyourhomeroomparents,wewillpresenttheholidaygiftandyearendgiftto(Teacher’sName)onbehalfoftheclass;thePTOwillcollectanddistributeforthespecialsteachers.Pleasenote,participationinclassgiftsiscompletelyoptionalassomeparentsprefertogiveaspecific,individualgift.Wewouldliketothankyouinadvanceforallyourhelp.Pleasefeelfreetocallusifyouhaveanyquestionsorideasregardingthisyear’sevents.WearelookingforwardtoseeingyouatBack-To-SchoolNight.BestRegards,HomeParentNamesHomeroomParentcontactdetails:

ATTACHMENTB

ApprovedFoodsforSchoolWide/ClassroomCelebrationsandPartiesEffectiveSeptember2012

Homemadeitemsmadefromscratch(alongwithingredientlists,NOSPRINKLES)arewelcomedaslongastheyarelimitedtocookies,brownies,cupcakes,muffinsorricekrispietreats.Pleaseavoidnutingredientsinbaking.Ifusingaboxedbakingproduct,pleaseuseonlythebrandslistedbelow.CakeMix,BrownieMix,MuffinMixandFrosting

• BettyCrocker• Pillsbury• GloriouslyGluten(glutenfree)267MainAve.,Stirling908-647-7337• ShopRiteBrandcupcakes

NoDonutswillbeallowedexceptforEntenmanns.–NoDunkinDonuts

• Entenmanns-LittleBitesandsmalldonuts:glazed,chocolate,powderedCookies:

• ChipsAhoy-ChocolateChip• Oreos(regular,golden,orminis)• Hersheychocolatechips(NOTTollhouse)• BarnumAnimalCrackers

Fruits/vegetables

• FreshFruit• FreshVegetables:babycarrots,celery,grapetomatoes,cucumber,etc.

OtherSnacksPuddingSnacks(Jello-Obrand) Kellogg’sbrandRiceKrispieTreats(original)IcePops Pretzels(mostbrands,butNOTSnyders)PhillySwirls(gluten,nut,dairyfree) GoldfishcrackersParentsofstudentswithfoodallergiesorfoodintolerancesmaybringinaseparatesupplyofsnacksfortheirchildasneededforclassroomcelebrations.***Pleasecontinuetocheckingredientsonalllabelsastheyaresubjecttochange.Includeallingredientlistswithfoodwhetherstoreboughtorhomemade.FoodshouldbebroughttoMainOfficeby10a.m.*****

NewNutritionPolicy(effective2013)

• Eachclassispermitted5classroom/schoolwidepartiessuchasHalloween,HolidayParty,Valentine’sDay,EndoftheYear,etc.

• Foodisnotpermittedatbirthdaycelebrations.

DuringEACHPartyCelebrationONLYthefollowingitemsareallowed:

1. Todrink:ONLYWATER2. ONESWEETTREAToffthedistrictapprovedlist(i.e.cupcakes,brownies,RiceKrispy

treats,cookies)

3. ONESAVORYTREAT(pretzel,goldfishorpopcorn-approvedbrands)

4. ONEFRUITorvegetableplatter….kebabs,fruitsalad,anyfruit

AttachmentC-HomeroomParent“MonthbyMonthataGlance”

September:

ü AttendHomeroomParentMeetinginSeptember,Luncheontofollowü PrepareandsendwelcomeLettertoparents–refertoAttachmentBü IntroduceyourselfatBacktoSchoolnightandexplainresponsibilitiesü BringclasspartysignupsheetstoBacktoSchoolnight–refertofolder

October:

ü HalloweenParty–obtainvolunteerstocompletesnacklistandpartyitemsü Consultwithotherhomeroomparentstomaintainconsistencyatclassparties

November:

ü TeacherGiftCollectionü AttendBookFair

December:

ü HolidayPartyü PurchaseanddistributeHomeroomTeacherGifts

February/March/April:

ü Valentine’sDayPartyü SpringParty(notallgrades)

May:

ü StateTesting–organizehealthysnacksforstudentsü StaffAppreciationWeek

June:

ü FieldDayü EndofYearPartyü KindergartenGraduation(KindergartenHomeroomParentsOnly)ü PurchaseandDistributeHomeroomParentGifts