• Teachers may not cancel parties without prior approval from the principal or assistant principal. 
• Student birthday parties may not be cancelled as a punishment for bad behavior.
• No class parties will be permitted until Nurse LeRoy or the annex nurse determine the Epi-Pen children in the classes.

The SLT has created a school policy for holiday parties.  Teachers have class parties to celebrate students and to create a welcoming classroom environment. 

All Parties

1. No food parties will be permitted until the school nurse has determined the severe-allergy children in the classes who have Epi-Pens.  Once a plan is created for those children to participate in activities involving food, class parties may commence.
2. Parties must be scheduled for inside the classroom.  Teachers may not schedule parties in the school’s lunchrooms or gym.  Teachers who wish to use the school yard for their party must get prior permission from Christina Nartowicz in the annex and Christina Figueroa in the main building.
3. Students may not pass out “left-overs” to other staff members in the building.  All left-over treats will be sent home with the child.
4. Children with Epi-Pens will only be permitted to eat food provided by his/her parent.  Epi-Pen students may not pick and choose which foods they can and cannot eat.  Students with Epi-Pens MAY NOT eat or drink anything except for what their parents send to school. Epi-Pen children may drink bottled water.
5. The day before a classroom party, teachers must let allergy/Epi-Pen parents know of the celebration so they have the opportunity to send in food for their child.   
6. If a parent is in the classroom during a party and he/she wants to feed their child the party food or drink, they may do so.  For example:  Joe has an Epi-pen and is not permitted to eat or drink anything at a party except what his parents send to school for him.  Joe’s mother is at the party and decides that the Halloween cupcakes are okay for Joe to eat.  Joe’s mom may give the cupcake to Joe.  Teachers, paras, and other students may not hand the cupcake to Joe.  Mom must be the one who takes the cupcake and gives it to her child. 
7. In addition, the teachers request that students and parents do not throw a celebration for teachers’ birthdays. If teachers wish to celebrate their birthday with the class, they will make their own arrangements.
8. There will be no surprise parties for the teachers of any kind.
9. All other parties not specified in this policy must have the prior approval of the Principal/Assistant Principal.

Birthday Parties

In-school birthday celebrations are a simple acknowledgement of a student’s birthday.  The in-school birthday celebration should not be considered the child’s official birthday party.

Duration	15 minutes maximum and cause minimal disruption to the class academic schedule
Food/Beverage	Parents of birthday child may sponsor snack and/or mini-bottle of water.  Approved party snacks include store purchased cupcakes/donuts or store purchased individually wrapped, single-serving treats (cookies, chips, etc.)  Teachers will not accept whole cakes as treats.  Treats that are wrapped must be individually wrapped (each child should receive one intact, individually wrapped treat.  Students may not share package with 2 cupcakes together).Teachers will not accept large water bottles with paper cups.  Beverages must be in single serving packages. Teachers will not accept ice cream or frozen desserts for the treat. Please send enough treats so every participating student can have the exact same treat.  For example, please do not send 15 cupcakes and 15 cookies for a class of 30.  The students argue over who is getting a cookie and who is getting a cupcake.  It is better if the parent sends in 30 cupcakes or 30 cookies or both. No homemade treats will be accepted.  Absolutely NO nuts!!  Beverages are limited to individual water bottles.  Parents should also provide napkins for the children. Parents may not send goody bags for the classmates. Absolutely NO CANDLES!  That would be dangerous.
Craft/Project	No
Notification	Parents must let a classroom teacher know about an upcoming birthday celebration at least two weeks in advance by writing a letter with the proposed celebration date to the classroom teacher.  The teacher will look at the proposed date for the celebration against the class and school calendars and determine a good for the event.  At times, the party may need to be done in advance or after the birth date depending on the school activities of the day.Teacher will notify parents of children with allergies of the upcoming food event.
Drop Off Information	Once a celebration has been pre-approved by the classroom teacher, the parent may bring the party snack to school on the morning of the event.  Parents will bring the snack to the main office and it will be delivered to the classroom.Parents should provide enough treats so that each child in the class may participate.
Other Rules	Parents and siblings may not join the class in the celebration. Parents may not send presents for their child to open in class. Parents may not send a camera to school and expect the teacher to take pictures of the child during the party.

Holiday Parties

Holiday parties are a celebration of multi-culturalism and American traditions.

• Pre-K and Kindergarten – Pre-K and Kindergarten have a minimum of 6 in-class holiday parties for: (1) Fall Celebration (Halloween); (2) Thanksgiving; (3) Winter Holidays; (4) Celebrate School Day/Valentine’s Day; (5) Spring Fun/Friendship Day (optional); (6) After Show Party; (7) End of Year
• Grades 1-3 – Grades 1-3 have a minimum of 5 in-class holiday parties for: (1) Fall Celebration (Halloween); (2) Thanksgiving; (3) Winter Holidays; (4) Celebrate School Day/Valentine’s Day; (5) End of Year
• Grades 4-5 – Grades 4-5 have a minimum of 4 in-class holiday parties for: (1) Fall in-class activity (Halloween) that Mrs. Figueroa supplies to teachers (word searches, crossword puzzles, jumbles, etc.); (2) Thanksgiving; (3) Winter Holidays; (4) End of Year

Duration	45 minutes maximum and cause minimal disruption to the class academic schedule
Parents’ Coordination	Yes
Class Collection	Yes Holiday Gift – a maximum voluntary donation of $5 for classroom teacher(s) and $2 for classroom paraprofessionals per student. End of Year Gift – a maximum voluntary donation of $7 for classroom teacher(s) and $3 for classroom paraprofessionals per student. All Other Gift Collections – a maximum voluntary donation of $2 for classroom teacher or classroom paraprofessional (shower, birthday, wedding, etc.) Food & Craft – a maximum voluntary donation of $5 for class party food and craft combined. **All students must sign card regardless of their financial contribution (or lack of contribution).
Food/Beverage	Snack and/or mini-bottle of water.  Approved party snacks include store purchased cupcakes/donuts or store purchased individually wrapped, single-serving treats (cookies, chips, etc.)  Teachers will not accept whole cakes as treats.  Treats that are wrapped must be individually wrapped (each child should receive one intact, individually wrapped treat.  Students may not share package with 2 cupcakes together).Teachers will not accept large water bottles with paper cups.  Beverages must be in single serving packages.Teachers will not accept ice cream or frozen desserts for the treat.Please send enough treats so every participating student can have the exact same treat.  For example, please do not send 15 cupcakes and 15 cookies for a class of 30.  The students argue over who is getting a cookie and who is getting a cupcake.  It is better if the parent sends in 30 cupcakes or 30 cookies or both. No homemade treats will be accepted.  Absolutely NO nuts!!  Beverages are limited to individual water bottles.  Class parents should also provide napkins for the childrenClass parents may not make goody bags for the classmates.
Craft/Project	Teacher will determine.
Notification	Teacher will determine date and time for party.Teacher will notify parents of children with allergies of the upcoming food event.
Drop Off Information	Once a celebration has been pre-approved by the classroom teacher, the class parents may bring the party snack and/or craft to school on the morning of the event.  Class parents will deliver the snack to classroom.Class parents should provide enough treats so that each non-allergy child in the class may participate.
Other Rules	Class parents will assist teacher during party.Class parents will get prior approval for date/time of party from the teacher.For End of Year parties – no parties on the last day of school!

After Class Show Meet and Greet

After each class show, teachers may host and Meet and Greet event in their classroom for parents to interact with their children.  Teachers across the grade will determine what will be served.  Every class on the grade will have the same type of celebration.  This will prevent an inequality between same grade-level classes.  This will also prevent an environment of the “haves” and the “have-nots” in our school especially between gifted and general education/special education classrooms.

Duration	30 minutes maximum and cause minimal disruption to the class academic schedule
Parents’ Coordination	Classroom teacher will determine (must be the same policy across the grade)
Class Collection	Classroom teacher will determine (must be the same policy across the grade)No collection for flowers for teachers
Food/Beverage	Teacher and grade-level colleagues will determine if food will be served.  This is usually a morning celebration so appropriate morning-type of snacks are preferred.   Snack and/or mini-bottle of water.  Approved party snacks include store purchased muffins/bagels or store purchased individually wrapped, single-serving treats (cookies, chips, etc.)  Teachers will not accept whole cakes as treats.  Treats that are wrapped must be individually wrapped (each child should receive one intact, individually wrapped treat.  Students may not share package with 2 cupcakes together).Teachers will not accept large water bottles with paper cups.  Beverages must be in single serving packages.Teachers will not accept ice cream or frozen desserts for the treat.Please send enough treats so every participating student can have the exact same treat.  For example, please do not send 15 cupcakes and 15 cookies for a class of 30.  The students argue over who is getting a cookie and who is getting a cupcake.  It is better if the parent sends in 30 cupcakes or 30 cookies or both. No homemade treats will be accepted.  Absolutely NO nuts!!  Beverages are limited to individual water bottles.  Class parents should also provide napkins for the childrenClass parents may not make goody bags for the classmates.
Craft/Project	No.
Notification	Teacher will determine date and time for party.Teacher will notify parents of children with allergies of the upcoming food event.
Drop Off Information	Once a celebration has been pre-approved by the classroom teacher, the class parents may bring the party snacks to school on the morning of the event.  Class parents will deliver the snacks to classroom.Class parents should provide enough treats so that each non-allergy child in the class and their parents may participate.
Other Rules	Class parents will assist teacher during party.Siblings in other classes may not participate.

Academic Celebrations

Academic celebrations are in-class parties to celebrate an academic goal (writing celebrations, IIM celebrations, etc.)

Duration	45 minutes maximum and cause minimal disruption to the class academic schedule
Parents’ Coordination	Classroom teacher will determine (must be the same policy across the grade)
Class Collection	Classroom teacher will determine (must be the same policy across the grade)
Food/Beverage	Teacher will determine if food will be served.   Snack and/or mini-bottle of water.  Approved party snacks include store purchased cupcakes/donuts or store purchased individually wrapped Teachers will not accept whole cakes as treats.  Treats that are wrapped must be individually wrapped (each child should receive one intact, individually wrapped treat.  Students may not share package with 2 cupcakes together).Teachers will not accept large water bottles with paper cups.  Beverages must be in single serving packages.Teachers will not accept ice cream or frozen desserts for the treat.Please send enough treats so every participating student can have the exact same treat.  For example, please do not send 15 cupcakes and 15 cookies for a class of 30.  The students argue over who is getting a cookie and who is getting a cupcake.  It is better if the parent sends in 30 cupcakes or 30 cookies or both. No homemade treats will be accepted.  Absolutely NO nuts!!  Beverages are limited to individual water bottles.  Class parents should also provide napkins for the childrenClass parents may not make goody bags for the classmates.
Craft/Project	No
Notification	Teacher will determine date and time for celebration.Teacher will notify parents of children with allergies of the upcoming food event (if applicable)
Drop Off Information	The class parents may bring the party snacks to school on the morning of the event.  Class parents will deliver the snacks to classroom.Class parents should provide enough treats so that each non-allergy child and parents in the class may participate.
Other Rules	Parents may be invited to Academic Celebrations.Siblings in other classes may not participate.Teachers may invite other classes to participate.  Take this into consideration when planning food.