ROOM PARENT GUIDELINES
Thank you for volunteering to be a room parent in your child’s class this year! Your
contributions will make the year more fun and successful for the teachers and the children in the
class. These guidelines detail your responsibilities as a room parent.
There are four primary areas for this role:
1. Assisting the teachers with scheduling volunteers
2. Assisting the teachers with soliciting items needed for class activities
3. Organizing ways to occasionally express appreciation to your classroom teachers
4. Serve as a liaison between the PTA committees and the classroom parents. Please
check email frequently in order to distribute information to parent volunteers and
classroom parents in a timely manner.
The amount of time and work this job will require is different for each grade level. Please take
guidance from your teacher and understand responsibilities in a Kindergarten classroom may
differ from those in an uppergrade classroom. Also, do not feel that you must be in the
classroom often, or attend every field trip, or provide items for every party. You should assign
these responsibilities to other parents.
Class distribution list – obtain from your teacher. As soon as room parent is assigned, you
should email the class list introducing yourself. Please be sure to copy the teacher on each
group message to keep everyone informed.
The classroom coordinator chairs are happy to help with any questions:
Aneta Burton
Deyna Rogers
We can be reached at roomparents@irwinpta.org .
Look for email communications from us, generally on Sunday and Wednesday evenings, that
need to be distributed to your classroom parents.
contributions will make the year more fun and successful for the teachers and the children in the
class. These guidelines detail your responsibilities as a room parent.
There are four primary areas for this role:
1. Assisting the teachers with scheduling volunteers
2. Assisting the teachers with soliciting items needed for class activities
3. Organizing ways to occasionally express appreciation to your classroom teachers
4. Serve as a liaison between the PTA committees and the classroom parents. Please
check email frequently in order to distribute information to parent volunteers and
classroom parents in a timely manner.
The amount of time and work this job will require is different for each grade level. Please take
guidance from your teacher and understand responsibilities in a Kindergarten classroom may
differ from those in an uppergrade classroom. Also, do not feel that you must be in the
classroom often, or attend every field trip, or provide items for every party. You should assign
these responsibilities to other parents.
Class distribution list – obtain from your teacher. As soon as room parent is assigned, you
should email the class list introducing yourself. Please be sure to copy the teacher on each
group message to keep everyone informed.
The classroom coordinator chairs are happy to help with any questions:
Aneta Burton
Deyna Rogers
We can be reached at roomparents@irwinpta.org .
Look for email communications from us, generally on Sunday and Wednesday evenings, that
need to be distributed to your classroom parents.
Volunteer Registration
All volunteers are required to register with the CMS online volunteer system at
www.cmsvolunteers.com. If you have not already done so, be sure to register.
All volunteers are required to register with the CMS online volunteer system at
www.cmsvolunteers.com. If you have not already done so, be sure to register.
Communication with Teachers
Room parents should discuss with one another and the teacher as to the best ways to
communicate with parents. Let the teacher explain details of how she/he prefers things done in
class and the details of various field trips or class projects.
Room parents should discuss with one another and the teacher as to the best ways to
communicate with parents. Let the teacher explain details of how she/he prefers things done in
class and the details of various field trips or class projects.
Communication with Parents
You should receive a contact distribution list for your class. This information is for school use
only, and should not be used for any other purpose.
There are various ways to organize volunteers. It is best to give parents as much lead time as
possible, so we suggest reaching out to volunteers as soon as opportunities are identified.
● SignUpGenius – This site is helpful in organizing volunteers. Individuals can select their
own time slots or other ways to help, then the site sends them reminders. When building
a SignUpGenius event, please limit the number of spots people can sign up for, ensuring
everyone has a chance to participate.
● Emailing volunteers is another way to reach out. Send lists of opportunities via email
and assign the volunteers once they respond. Be sure to email out a finalized list of who
is assigned to what.
You should receive a contact distribution list for your class. This information is for school use
only, and should not be used for any other purpose.
There are various ways to organize volunteers. It is best to give parents as much lead time as
possible, so we suggest reaching out to volunteers as soon as opportunities are identified.
● SignUpGenius – This site is helpful in organizing volunteers. Individuals can select their
own time slots or other ways to help, then the site sends them reminders. When building
a SignUpGenius event, please limit the number of spots people can sign up for, ensuring
everyone has a chance to participate.
● Emailing volunteers is another way to reach out. Send lists of opportunities via email
and assign the volunteers once they respond. Be sure to email out a finalized list of who
is assigned to what.
Parties/Events
Your teacher will discuss the details of each party with you. Contact parents to assign items to
be sent for each party (i.e., cups, napkins, food, drinks.) Make parents aware of the CMSwide
rule of store bought food only, no homebaked goods.
Your teacher will discuss the details of each party with you. Contact parents to assign items to
be sent for each party (i.e., cups, napkins, food, drinks.) Make parents aware of the CMSwide
rule of store bought food only, no homebaked goods.
Special Class Projects
Throughout the school year, teachers may ask parents to send in special items for class
projects. Some teachers may prefer to manage these requests themselves, while others may
delegate to the room parent to solicit items.
Throughout the school year, teachers may ask parents to send in special items for class
projects. Some teachers may prefer to manage these requests themselves, while others may
delegate to the room parent to solicit items.
Teacher Gifts/Staff Appreciation
The Teacher/Staff Appreciation committee will provide you with a copy of your teacher’s Staff
Appreciation form. It may be helpful in identifying ways to recognize your teacher. Please
forward it to your classroom parents. The committee will also forward information such as
SignUpGenius links for staff breakfasts and Teacher Appreciation Week.
The Teacher/Staff Appreciation committee will provide you with a copy of your teacher’s Staff
Appreciation form. It may be helpful in identifying ways to recognize your teacher. Please
forward it to your classroom parents. The committee will also forward information such as
SignUpGenius links for staff breakfasts and Teacher Appreciation Week.
Limitation of Room Parent Role
Always refer parents to the teacher with questions from parents that do not pertain to the room
parent’s job description. Since teacher needs and practices vary from class to class, it’s best to
avoid giving conflicting information.
Always refer parents to the teacher with questions from parents that do not pertain to the room
parent’s job description. Since teacher needs and practices vary from class to class, it’s best to
avoid giving conflicting information.
Available Resources
Classroom Contact List – a summary of the classroom contact information that
your teacher has compiled to enable distribution to all of the classroom parents
Staff Appreciation Form – your teacher will fill this out
Room Parent Roster – a list of room parents with contact information according
to grade level
Classroom Contact List – a summary of the classroom contact information that
your teacher has compiled to enable distribution to all of the classroom parents
Staff Appreciation Form – your teacher will fill this out
Room Parent Roster – a list of room parents with contact information according
to grade level
