Parties

The PTG sponsors parties for special occasions during the school year. No other instructional time will be used for parties without the principal’s permission. Birthday treats should be distributed during lunchtime. Parent should inform their child’s classroom teacher when a birthday treat needs to be distributed. Invitations to parties that are planned to occur outside school may be distributed at school ONLY IF ALL CHILDREN IN THE CLASS ARE BEING INVITED. Policy & Procedures Govern Classroom Holiday Parties and Accompanying Money Collection at St. Thomas More.

St. Thomas More School recognizes that holiday classroom parties are a significant social aspect of elementary school. The purpose of classroom holiday parties is to provide students with an opportunity to interact and develop social skills while celebrating a special occasion; therefore, classroom holiday parties must be child oriented and child focused. While classroom homeroom parents are responsible for the set up and delivery of party food and events, the classroom teacher will be present at the party and remains the authority in the classroom.

Party Procedures
• Classroom holiday parties will be celebrated at school on three occasions during
      the school year. These occasions are: Halloween, Christmas & Valentine’s Day.
• Each classroom party will be 1 hour in duration, beginning at 1:30 PM and ending
      at 2:30 PM. Classroom clean up will occur from 2:30 to 2:45 PM.
• Each classroom party and clean up will be organized and executed by classroom
      homeroom parents. Each party will have a minimum of 3 parents present.
• Homeroom parents should plan age appropriate crafts or student games to occupy
      the 1 hour party time.
• Due to the significant number of students with food allergies, treats, food, snacks at
      a classroom party will be limited to a beverage in the form a juice box and a cookie
      or cake treat in the lower grades and/or soda pop and chips, pretzels in the upper
      grades. Parents of students with food allergies will be responsible for monitoring
      their child’s food intake at school parties.

Procedures for Collecting Annual Funds for Parties & Teacher Gifts
St. Thomas More School recognizes that it is customary for homeroom parents to collect funds yearly for classroom parties. In addition, it is understood that in some cases additional funds are collected to provide classroom teachers with a Christmas holiday present. However, St. Thomas More School recognizes the hardship that families with several children may incur when attempting to provide funds for each classroom party and gift expense fund.
Therefore, the following guideline should be followed:
• Fund collection per child is limited to no more than $5.00 per year. The funds
      collected will cover the cost of three holiday classroom parties and a collective
      Christmas gift to the classroom teacher.
• School families, if they so choose, may opt to present their teachers with a personal
      Christmas gift in additional to the collective classroom gift.