Room Parents Briefing

1. Room Parents Briefing WELCOME

2. What we cover today • Room Parent role and responsibilities • To dos • Class parties & activities • Major school activities & events • Other Information

3. Room Parent Role & Responsibilities • Link between Room teacher and parents • Mobilize volunteers for class /school wide activities • Actively engage with other parents in class • Participate in volunteer work • Ready to step up and help • Be accountable for class fund • Organize and coordinate class parties

4. To Do 1: Communicate with Room Teacher • Establish an understanding and expectation on the needs of the class throughout the school year • Confirm allergy situations for each child • Collect each child’s photo for contact list, if needed • Parties and event dates, if known • Birthday celebration style and format • Party supplies, if available from last year • Understand class cooking budget • Fapiaoreimbursement requirement

5. To do 2: Room Parent(s) • Decide how to share workload if there are multiple room parent representatives • Communicator: • Key contact person with homeroom teacher • Ongoing email to parents • Compile class contact list • Child’s name, mom’s and dad’s contact information • name, email, mobile, compound name, child photo? • Class fund manager • Organize class & school activities • Learning kitchen, Reading group, Field trip, Class Parties • International Day, Staff Appreciation Day, Fun Fair, Charity Bazaar

6. To Do 3: Communicate with Parents • Send an email to introduce yourself and your team • Seek permission to share parents’ personal contact • Ask for each child’s updated allergy situation • Send out an complied class contact list to all parents • Confirm contact information • Explain needs of class fund and amount requested • Organize a coffee morning for parents • Get to know each other and make friends • Communicate Room Teacher’s expectations and needs • Collect class fund

7. Class Parties & Activities • Class Parties and other Activities • Preliminary party dates: before winter break? Year End Party? • Party supplies: paper plates, napkins and plastic utensils • Party contributions: encourage each child to contribute a dish of his/her home country • Activities: mobilize volunteers • Scheduling of Learning Kitchen, if needed • Scheduling of reading and math group, if needed • Field trips • Mobilize volunteers to accompany the children

8. Class Fund • Purpose • Party supplies/Drinks/Food • Year end gifts for teachers / TA • Year end gifts for children • Gifts for leaving children • New born baby or sick child • Teacher’s birthday • Voluntary • Confirm a specific amount (Rmb 150-200) per child • Each class has a school budget ofRmb 1000. Please discuss this further with your teacher

9. Reimbursement (Fapiao) • When can we ask for Fapiao • Cooking Class Suppliers • Class Party supplies • If reimbursement is needed • Must collect a Fapiao • Make Fapiao title to: 京西学校 (Western Academy of Beijing)

10. Major School Activities and Events 2014/2015 • September 23: Parent Link Open Monthly Meeting (last Tue of every month, see calendar) • October 13-17: a week long Clothing Drive • October 15: International Day • November 11 and 12: Book Fair • November 22: Charity Bazaar • December 9: Pajama Party-ES library and Classrooms • March 26: Staff Appreciation Day • April 13-17: a week long Clothing Drive • May 23: Fun Fair- Rock in the Park • June 2 and 3: Fun Day

11. International Day: October 15th • Whole School Celebration • Parents are invited • Send email to class parents • Encourage all parents to participate • Children will wear own country costumes • Preparing their own country dishes • Discuss with Room Teacher on celebration format • Party supply/Drinks • Volunteers needed

12. Charity Bazaar: November 22nd • A great event involving many different vendors selling all kinds of gifts, foods, etc… • Parent Link organizes a BIG Bake Sale • Mobilize and encourage at least 5 parent volunteers • Volunteers to help bake cookies, muffins, a cake or savoury dishes to sell • Other volunteers are also needed to help staff and sell baked goods during the event • Charity Bazaar Committee will provide more details

13. Pajama Party: December 9th • Everyone will wear Pajama to School • Parents volunteers will read stories in ES Library • ECC will celebrate in their own Class Rooms • More Details for this year party will be given

14. Staff Appreciation Day: March 26th 2015 • A special day that we show our appreciation to all the WAB community • Parent volunteers are needed • Bake muffins, cakes, cookies, fruit, savoury dishes, salads or any other special dishes • Staffing to help cover yard/playground dutie • Teachers, TAs, Ayis, Guards, and all the WAB staff will be able to enjoy these baked goods along with tea/coffee • More information will be given

15. Fun Fair-Rock in the Park: May 23rd 2015 • A great fun family day for children • Fun games • Many food vendors prepared by our Chinese and Korean communities • Volunteers are needed to help run children activities/games • Great way for Dads to get involved • The most beloved event by children

16. Other Information • Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) • Encourage parents to attend • WechatGroup is available, please check with your Rep • Chinese Link Monthly Meeting-welcome coffee • Sep. 12th 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm @ Lotus Lounge • ES Transition workshop for new families • Sep. 16th 8:45am to 10:00am @Lotus Lounge

17. Questions?

18. Thank you Your support & involvement creates impact in our children You are an important part of the wab community!