2023 – 2024 Class Parents

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Class Parent for the 2023-2024 school year! Being a Class Parent is a great way to get involved in your child’s experience at McKinley School and connect with fellow parents. McKinley benefits most when we have active engagement and involvement from parents, so we appreciate your willingness to volunteer! 

Please complete the Class Parent Volunteer form here by Friday, September 15, if you would like to be considered to be a Class Parent. If you have more than one child at McKinley, please choose only ONE classroom. 

If more than two parents volunteer for any classroom, the class parents will be chosen based on a random drawing. If you are not chosen, we encourage you to reach out to the PTO at mckinleypto@westfieldnjk12.org to discuss other ways to get involved! There are so many ways to help!

The primary responsibilities of the class parents are as follows below. 

1. Parent/Teacher Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact between your child’s teacher and fellow parents for class-wide initiatives.
• Teacher Assistance: Continually assess and determine if any aid is needed in the classroom, such as additional supplies or extra help with special projects.
• Class Parties: Partnering with your child’s teacher and co-Class Parent, plan and execute the class Halloween game stations and End-of-Year parties. At the start of the year, Class Parents will ask for voluntary monetary donations from other parents. Due to allergy concerns, food will no longer be served at class parties. Further party guidance to follow.
• Teacher Birthday: Plan a small token of appreciation to acknowledge your teacher’s birthday (class card, have the kids sing happy birthday, etc.)
• Teacher Gifts: Solicit parent contributions and organize class gifts for your child’s teacher at the holidays and end of year. 
2. PTO Liaison: The PTO relies on Class Parents to help in the following ways:
   • Teacher Appreciation Week: Assist with projects associated with Teacher Appreciation Week in May, and help the PTO spread the word and get parents and students involved in helping make this a special week for our McK teachers!
   • Promote PTO events and other information: Share information about PTO-sponsored events and fundraisers with fellow parents and encourage participation.
   • Attend PTO General Meetings: It is encouraged that at least one class parent attend each of the General PTO meetings, which are typically held twice a year.
3. Informal Parent Gathering: Plan an informal social event for the parents in your child’s class within the first six weeks of school. This is not mandatory – just a suggestion.

Thank you for volunteering to be a Class Parent!