What Does a Room Parent Do?
Room Parents play an essential role in building a strong classroom community and supporting our teachers, students, and school.
Being a Room Parent is about more than planning parties- though those are definitely fun!
Room Parents help with everything from organizing volunteers to keeping families informed and involved throughout the school year.
Here are some of the key responsibilities:
💡 Coordinate Classroom Donations
Room Parents are responsible for gathering monetary donations or supplies from families that will go towards class parties, the Spring Fair Basket, and the End of the Year gift for your teacher.
📣 Share PTO Information
Communication is key.
Room Parents help spread the word about upcoming PTO events, meetings, fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities. This helps keep families in the loop and strengthens the connection between home and school. The PTO is always here to support you with what to share and how to share it, and we will provide you with drafted emails/communications to send to parents to simplify the process.
🎁 Plan the Class Basket for the Spring Fair
Each class donates a themed raffle basket for our annual Spring Fair Basket Raffle Fundraiser.
Room Parents coordinate and collect donations from businesses or families to put together a creative and fun basket that is then raffled off at the fair. The PTO will provide you with donation request letters when the time comes.
🍎 Support Teacher Appreciation Week
From May 4th-8th, Room Parents help celebrate our amazing teachers and staff by volunteering during Teacher Appreciation Week to help the PTO with gestures of gratitude.
🎉 Organize Classroom Celebrations & End-of-Year Gift
Room Parents work with their teacher to plan four class parties throughout the year (Halloween, Winter, Valentine's, and End of the Year).
They also coordinate a meaningful end-of-year gift for the teacher from the entire class.
🤲 Be a Part of the PTO
Room Parents should have at least one representative at each PTO Meeting, and all need to volunteer at at least one PTO event during the school year.
Room Parents are truly the heart of the classroom and a vital connection between families, teachers, and the PTO. We’re so grateful for your support!
A Few Rules and Guidelines to note:
This year, each classroom will have one main Lead Room Parent (and up to 4 room parents total per class). The Lead Room Parent will be the primary point of contact for both the teacher and the families in the class. They’ll help make sure communication is clear, consistent, and in line with any PTO updates, acting as the coordinated voice for all the room parents in the classroom.
Classroom finances will need to be managed by one designated person. This can be either the Lead Room Parent or another Room Parent.
At the beginning of the year, please designate this individual to collect all contributions and maintain records of spending throughout the year. Donations should be documented, and the total amount collected should be available to any classroom parent upon request.
If requested, individual donation amounts should be shared in a de-identified format (without names attached).
The most effective way to track this information is with a shared Google Doc with all Room Parents.
As donations come in, please record them along with the running total, and update the document to reflect any expenses.
Check back in August for sign-ups - after teacher assignments are released!
Mark your calendars!
If you sign up to be a room parent this year, please plan to attend one of our orientation sessions on
