HOMEROOM PARENT GUIDE

First off—thank you! 💛 By volunteering as a Homeroom Parent, you’re helping build community in our classrooms and making school more fun and memorable for both students and teachers. This role really does make a difference, and we are so grateful you’ve stepped up.

🌟 Responsibilities

• Connect with parents: Gather contact info and send a friendly introduction.
  
  
• Keep the flow going: Forward PTA and yearbook updates, help with donations, and share reminders.
  
  
• Celebrate your teacher and Class Buddy: Recognize them on birthdays, Teacher Appreciation Week, and other special moments.
  
  
• Teamwork: Coordinate with your grade’s Lead Homeroom Parent, teacher, and class assistants on parties and activities.
  
  
• Involve others: Invite parents to volunteer—you don’t have to do it all yourself!

🎉 PTA Special Events

We never ask teachers to collect money—thank you for helping with this!

• Gala Silent Auction: Each class contributes a project or raffle basket.
  
  
• Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2025): PTA plans school-wide fun, but classes often add little touches—coffee runs, flowers, sweet notes, etc.
  
  

✉️ COMMUNICATION

Confidentiality is key—always use BCC when emailing parents.

💡 Tip: You can create a Google Doc or Sheet for parents to add contact info if they’d like to share with the group.

👯 Class Buddies

Each class is paired with a “buddy” staff member who doesn’t have their own class. Buddies may visit for story time, attend parties, or join activities. Please help make them feel part of your classroom community, and remember them on birthdays or Teacher Appreciation Week.

🎁 Teacher Gifts

Parents often like to give teachers a small holiday or end-of-year gift. Birthdays can be celebrated with simple, meaningful gestures—cards, a favorite snack, coffee, or flowers go a long way.

• Faculty Favorites: Lists are on the PTA website—encourage your teacher to update theirs.
  
  
• RRISD Policy: Gifts must not exceed $50 (including gift cards). No class-wide collections or pooled money, please.
  
  

🥳 Classroom Parties

Save the Dates:

• Winter Party – Dec 18, 2025
  
  
• Valentine Party – Feb 13, 2026
  
  
• End-of-Year Party – May 21, 2026
  
  

Grade-level homeroom parents work together so all classes celebrate in the same way. Teachers will provide outlines, and classes often rotate planning and purchases. Budget ahead so you have enough left for the end-of-year celebration. PTA will provide grades with a budget for the parties. Expenses should be submitted for reimbursement up to one month after the party, and no later than May 31st.

Food Guidelines for Class Parties

• 🎉 Nutrition rules are relaxed for the 3 parties so kids can enjoy some treats!

• ⚠️ Some students have serious food allergies. Always check with your Grade Level Team Leader for allergy information (nut-free, gluten-free, etc.).

• 🍪 Please keep party snacks consistent across classrooms when possible, with safe alternatives for students with allergies.

• 🛒 All food must be store-bought—no homemade items.

📸 PHOTOGRAPHY & PRIVACY

Please help us protect student privacy by following these guidelines:

• Do not post or share photos of other students or class events on social media.

• Homeroom Parents do not have access to RRISD photography waivers and cannot approve photo use.

• The yearbook team is coordinating a group of volunteers from each classroom to handle collecting and sharing photos in a way that respects student privacy.

🎓 Yearbook Goals

Our yearbook is designed to:

• Highlight events, activities, and milestones from the school year.

• Represent our large and diverse student body and faculty.

• Capture what makes our school so special.

• Include at least one candid photo of every student who wishes to participate.

Student choice comes first: If a child does not want to be photographed, their wishes always take priority over yearbook goals.

💙 Why This Matters

Respecting these guidelines helps ensure that every family feels comfortable and included in our community. Together, we can celebrate our students while keeping their safety and personal boundaries at the center.

💵 REIMBURSEMENT

Submit online at https://spicewoodpta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/16437

QUESTIONS? 

We are here to help! Please contact the PTA Homeroom Parent Coordinator Nadia Terheggen at homeroomparent@spicewoodpta.org.