Room Rep Zoom Follow Up
A Recap Message From Kate & Katie
Introduction: Why We're Doing This!?
To start, the Room Reps are being organized through the Westbrook and Glen Grove PTA, which is a non-profit 501c3 organization run by parent volunteers. Our mission is to offer cultural, educational, and social connections throughout the Westbrook and Glen Grove school community.
In line with this mission, we see our Room Reps as the *primary* way of creating connection among parents. The park meetups and communication you provide will bring people together in a way that strengthens and adds true value to our school community. Thank you!
Please review the points below -- everything below will echo the messaging in the Curriculum Night Packet, but sometimes seeing the info in a different way helps it all come together.
FIRST: Download the Curriculum Night Packet PDF
SECOND: Print This PDF + Use To Present
On Curriculum Night
TASK #1: Create A Classroom Directory
Your teacher and school is NOT allowed to share parent contact details, so your list is going to be the way of getting this information. Of course, if parents don't want to share their information that is ok -- but make sure they know that you will be reaching out to those who do provide their information to let them know about the first family park meetup!
More description is located on the Classroom Directory sheet in your Curriculum Night Packet.
TASK #2: Explain Classroom Funds
More description is located on the Classroom Funds sheet in your Curriculum Night Packet.
TASK #3: Explain PTA Membership
Membership is one of our biggest ways of earning money to use on these "extras" in the 2022-23 school year. The more we earn, the more we can do! Please encourage your classroom to support their school with a PTA membership!
Also, please emphasize that members do not need to attend meetings or volunteer. Membership is simply a show of support for the programming PTA provides!
More description is located on your PTA Membership sheet in your Curriculum Night Packet!
TASK #4: Explain Volunteer Opportunities
After Curriculum Night
Choose Your Meet-Up Dates
Blackout Dates
September 8, 15, 25-27
October 4, 5, and 14
If possible, do not schedule meetups on these dates
How many meetups? We'd love to have each class do 2 in the fall, 1 in the winter, and 2 in the spring for a total of 5 meetups per year.
What time is best for meetups? There is no perfect time, but try to vary your day/time so that you can catch people with different schedules.
Do I need to bring anything to the meetup? Nope! But at least one Room Rep should be there to host.
Send Your First Class Email
Our pre-made email will offer families a recap of your presentation, and, direct links to the Classroom Fund, PTA Membership, etc.
This will make your first communication VERY easy!
Teacher Appreciation Efforts
PTA is in the process of collecting Favorites Forms from all staff at Westbrook and Glen Grove. Once they are complete, we will house them online and share them with parents.
As a Room Rep, we'll ask you to share your teacher's Favorites Form with the class at key "appreciation" times of the year -- like ahead of winter break, around Valentine's Day, and during Teacher Appreciation Week in May.
Some parents may want to use the Favorites Form on their own -- that's great! Some parents may appreciate if the Room Rep organizes some special opportunities that they can participate in, such as sponsoring a lunch or two for your teacher, delivering her favorite Starbucks drink on her birthday, etc. It is 100% up to you what you'd like to plan, however, please make sure it is very clear to parents that participation is optional.
Note: PTA will focus more on "all staff" appreciation efforts, like a coffee cart for everyone to enjoy or special snacks in the lounge. Room Reps will focus more on appreciation efforts for the individual classrooms, which will include your teacher as well as the support staff in the room.
What is a Favorites Form? It's a list of questions that your teacher answers to tell you about themselves...like their favorite snacks, stores, flowers, and more!
Meet Up With Your Fellow Room Reps
Invest in the parent relationships because they are just as important as the student ones!
Questions From The Zoom
- When PTA collects the Classroom Funds, is this just for the parties or does the money go toward teacher appreciation efforts? The Classroom Funds are 100% for the parties and/or students. Teacher Appreciation is separate. Room Reps are able to ask for additional money for a teacher gift, lunch, etc., but please make sure to be clear that participation is optional.
- Are the meetups for only one classroom at a time? If you'd like to pair up with another classroom or two, great! Meetups can be one or more classrooms. Your choice!
- Where should meetups be held? Any park or playground, as long as it is not during school hours. Be aware that Westbrook playground is used by Wesley after care directly after school.
- Will parents be allowed to attend classroom parties? Yes, and D34 said they would reply with further details by Friday of this week. We will share more information when we have it.
- Will there be a PTA directory for all of Westbrook and Glen Grove? Yes, however, the district continues registration through September, then sends us the list of people who opted-in to sharing their information with community organizations like PTA. Long story short, the directory will not be ready to use until mid-to-late October so that's why we make an effort to collect parent emails at curriculum night. We wouldn't want to wait until the end of October to connect with everyone!
- Does your PTA membership offer "perks," like exclusive access to the directory? No, we have done away with this type of perk -- we feel the directory should be available to any parents at the school even if they are not a PTA member.
- Do Room Reps need to plan the classroom parties or make raffle baskets (as in years past)? NO! PTA will be providing the party plan and supplies. We are no longer doing the raffle basket event as-was...it may be reimagined in a new way, but Room Reps won't be involved!
Also, as parent Laurie O. mentioned during the Zoom, PTA membership DOES make a huge difference! The money we earn through membership helps so many things happen! To see photos of all the things PTA does check out our Facebook Group or our website: WestbrookandGlenGrovePTA.org
Have we forgotten something?
Westbrook and Glen Grove PTA
Email: ptapresident.wbgg@gmail.com
Website: https://www.westbrookandglengrovepta.org/
Phone: -------
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1708637696063888/
Twitter: @wbggpta