BLES ROOM REP TRAINING 2013-2014

1. BLES ROOM REP TRAINING 2013-2014 September 10th & 11th

2. AGENDA • Intro Room Rep Committee Members • PTA Co-Presidents / board • PTA Website • PTA Membership • Room Rep Responsibilities • “Housekeeping” items • Important Dates to Remember • Wrap Up / Q&A

3. Room Rep Committee • Co-Chairs • Danielle Rankin (grades K-2) (derankin73@gmail.com) 404-452-2134 • Jenny Llewellyn (grades 3-5) (jennyallewellyn@gmail.com) 678-520-4810 • Head Room Reps • Assistant Room Reps THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING!!

4. BLES PTA BOARD 2013-2014 • Mary Mansfield -Co-President • Julia Panousis -Co-President • Lisa Gordon -Vice President • Michelle Hardin – Vice President • Bernina Jones -Vice President • Becky Wells-Treasurer • Katrina Grier-Secretary

5. PTA Website • www.BLESPTA.org (please bookmark it!) • Will be a primary source of information for Room Rep Committee • Please join PTA ($7) – PTA membership is a requirement for anyone serving on a PTA committee

6. Head Room Rep Vacancies • London-Kindergarten (Has assts) • Miles-Kindergarten (Has assts) • Lutchen- 1st grade (Has assts) • Beachum – 2nd grade (Has assts) • Hiller – 2nd grade (Has assts)

7. Head Room Rep Vacancies • Ghomghani – 3rd grade (Has assts) • Helland- 4th grade (Has assts) • Schaffer – 4th grade (Has assts) • Guyton – 4th grade (Has assts) • Barnett – 5th grade (Has assts) • Culbertson – 5th grade (Has assts) • Paul – 5th grade (Has assts) • Herson – 4th grade (No Assts)

8. Head Room Rep Roles • Primary liaison for parental support for classroom • Meet with teacher to discuss needs & expectations for your role (email or phone if cannot meet face-to-face) • Ensure class roster is typed and distributed • Coordinate Winter Party • Coordinate recognition activities for Teacher Appreciation Week in the Spring • Ensure class yearbook photo and candid photos are taken • Reach out to and involve our diverse population of families in class activities • WORK AS A TEAM!! Communicate with and engage Asst Room Reps and other parents/guardians in classroom activities

9. Assistant Room Rep Roles • Assist Head Room Rep(s) in providing parental support for classroom • Assist Head Room Rep(s) as needed with • Class roster • Winter Party • Teacher Appreciation Week • Other activities that your classroom team deems necessary • WORK AS A TEAM!! Communicate with Head Room Rep(s) and other parents/guardians in classroom activities

10. Class Rosters • Templates posted on www.BLESPTA.org in Word and Excel formats • Serves as a resource for classroom families to stay connected • If some families did not sign roster, could be that they do not wish to be included on the list; that’s OK • Type and distribute to teacher and parents • Include a brief letter introducing your classroom’s Room Rep team to the other parents/guardians (sample letter available) • If possible, please complete by Friday, October 25th.

11. Winter Party • Winter Party: Last week of December before break (Last day of classes is December 20th.) • Coordinate with teacher on timing of party • Coordinate with teacher and Room Rep Team regarding activities and food (some teachers want minimum sweets at the parties….be sensitive to this) • Parties funded by PTA at $3/child for the year. This funding is available if you need it. Some Room Rep teams may choose to be creative in how to fund parties in lieu of PTA funds. –Stay tuned for new policy on money collections. • Sample flyers available on www.blespta.org • Turn in PTA Check Request Form after party to request reimbursement; form posted on www.blespta.org. Be sure to include the number of students in your classroom when requesting reimbursement. Winter party receipts must be in by January 15th.

12. Teacher Appreciation Week (Spring 2013) • Time set aside to recognize teachers for their outstanding contributions and dedication to our students • May 5-9, 2014 • Teacher Appreciation Luncheon – • Teacher Appreciation Breakfast – • Room Rep teams will be asked to donate food for the luncheon • Will also need volunteers to assist with the luncheon and breakfast • Sign-up Genius • Additional details coming in the Spring

13. End of Year Party • Room Reps are not responsible for end of the year party. Teacher Appreciation Week marks the end of your responsibilities for this year. Assisting with the End of the Year Party is voluntary. • Money spent will not be reimbursed by the PTA.

14. DO’s & DON’Ts • DO…. • Communicate with your teacher and parents • Understand that teacher decides timing of when classroom activities are to take place (e.g. parties, pictures, etc) • Ensure teacher’s wants/needs are always considered • Be aware of families who have opted their child out of being photographed!! • Most importantly…HAVE FUN and BE CREATIVE!!

15. DO’s & DON’Ts • DON’T…. • Interrupt instructional time without prior approval from teacher!! • Be afraid to ask for help.

16. Teachers’‘Favorite Things’ List • Available to assist you in getting to know your teacher better • Lists will also be available on the website in the next few weeks.

17. “Housekeeping” Items • Teacher gifts • PTA policy – Monetary donations can no longer be collected from the parents for any reason. • Suggestion – Share the teacher favorites page with your class parents and encourage them to purchase gift cards.

18. “Housekeeping” Items Yearbook – Rose Merrick Take lots of pictures!!! Class group pictures Book fair and Media Center –Susan Humphries, Carol Lawson Help with book fair preview with youngest students. Help with staffing book fair - Volunteers are needed for the media center

19. “Housekeeping” Items • Making copies • Use copiers in the mail room (where the teacher mailboxes are) • Copier code for PTA is 1900# • Must log # of copies and note as “Room Rep Committee”; include teacher name & grade • Please only make the number of copies actually needed as money comes from PTA budget

20. 2013-2014 Room Rep Dates to Remember • Oct 18th – class photo and 1st set of candid photos due • Oct 25th or sooner – class rosters and letters typed and distributed • Last week of classes in December – Winter Party • Dec 17th – 2nd set of candid photos due • Jan 10th– 3rd set of candid photos due • May 5th – 9th– Teacher Appreciation Week

21. WRAP UP / Q&A • Tour teacher workroom and copier room (if desired)