Class Valentine Party

[icedcoffee]

I know this is like my 1200th class parent post, but I don't want to fuck it up.

Tell me about your class Valentines Day Parties  and how you coordinated like I am five.

How do you coordinate?  I feel like it's easier if I just buy all the shit and I don't really mind.  Is that ok or does that make me a shitty class parent.  Then I can just ask some parents to show up and help coordinate the activities.

It's an hour...so maybe like a craft, a game and a snack? 

This is kindergarten.

[Poppy]

I think it's fine if you are willing/able to buy it all. Craft + snack + game sounds perfect.

Especially since it's kindergarten, as a parent I would just appreciate knowing ASAP what the norms are. Valentines for all classmates? Should they be labeled for each recipient or just have the from part filled out? Any restrictions on candy/ingredients eg nuts? Do students need to bring in some kind of mailbox?

Maybe the teacher communicates these things well, but if not, it would be helpful if you would. Also, if it's allowed, some parents might be interested in coming in for the party to help with crafts/game/snacks/whatever. You could do a sign-up genius for that or just let parents know if that's an option if they're interested.

[sadie]

We have parent volunteers sign up to help through PTO. One is designated the coordinator, who will communicate the party plan to the teacher; this purson also assigns who brings what. Our parties are an hour. We usually do 4 stations to rotate through and have a backup whole class activity ready in case we have extra time (e.g., freeze dance). One station is usually a craft and the others are games/active games. For 1st grade, think musical chairs, bingo, twister, spoon races, etc. We are alloted a specific amount of money per party that we can use or not; PTO rules say parent volunteers can't use personal funds for this purpose. Our PTO has a decent spreadsheet of activities done in the past and a small supply closet for games used in prior years.

[nicolewi]

Ours is really pretty loose/casual, and the class parents role is not well defined, and sometimes there isn’t even a class parent. But the teacher or some kind of point person generally sends out a sign-up genius, and asks people to sign up to bring various snacks (often something like cheese sticks, crackers/pretzels, fruit or veggie snack, “sweet treat” ie store bought cupcakes or cookies or similar, juice or water), paper goods, and any other party supplies. Usually the party is fairly simple. Often there are maybe like four stations, a craft, some kind of simple game, another game or activity, maybe just coloring. There are some candy heart minute to win it games that they have done in the past. One year I bought really cheap Valentines at Target that kids could color, and for one station, they just colored a Valentine for someone in their family. They’re also really cheap like foam sticker activity kits, and other valentine kits that you can buy.

Usually people sign up quickly and easily to bring things to the party. I wouldn’t take that all on by yourself if you don’t have to.

ETA: all the kids bring valentines for all the kids in the class. The teacher handles this. This is totally separate from the party at our school.

[redpenmama]

Our class parties usually have 4 stations, so a craft, 2 games, and a snack (or maybe in this case, one station is a Valentine's exchange, though the teacher may be doing that separately). Parents volunteer to work a station and the teacher oversees the flow of the party. At our school, teachers/room parents will either send out a Sign Up Genius asking for specific supplies needed for the party or ask for a flat contribution from each student ($5) to cover the cost of supplies. Sometimes, that sign-up sheet also includes parent volunteer slots so you can select what station you help with.

[icedcoffee]

Stations!!!! That makes so much more sense than what I was envisioning. You guys are so smart.

[icedcoffee]

So do the kids just bring the supplies/snacks into school with them that day if their parent signs up for something?

[nicolewi]

At our school, yes, kids just bring in their party supplies the day of the party or the day before. Usually there’s some kind of instructions about when to bring things in. We also typically have a couple parent helpers at the party, but obviously that depends on the rules at your school..

[hermione]

Don't buy everything. It screws the next class parent because other parents will just expect it going forward. Create a sign up genius and have people sign up. And, yes, the kid just brings whatever the parent signs up for in with them. You can even have the day to bring things in a day or two early so you can assess and see if you need to fill in holes.

[abs]

Plan with the other kinder room moms. You’ll want to do similar parties. Ours always had 3-4 stations, a photo op, and PTO provided snack. Don’t buy everything. Create a sign up genius and have parents contribute supplies. I found it easiest to have them deliver to my house the weekend before the party so I knew exactly what was needed. No matter how well you plan its chaos. Active stations work best.

Sooooooo glad to be out of the party planning business this year!!

[kate1482]

My dd’s teacher (2nd grade) sends out a Google doc with a list of party supplies needed and the Amazon link. Parents just order from there and mark what is purchased off the list.

[186momx]

I just can't believe there are school districts out there that still allow holidays to be celebrated in school let alone give up education time for a party. 6th grade and never have had a class party for any holiday. Hell, we aren't even allowed do Valentines or say happy Valentines. When DD was in 1st she read the history of Valentines and gave a speech to the principal and couldn't change anyone's mind.

That said DD exchanges Valentine's stuff with her gymnastic teammates.

[countthestars]

Our school has started to do "Party in a Bag" and it's gone over really well. Room parent or teacher still does sign up genius for any supplies they need for stations, but each parent sends in snacks for their own kid. With a deadline of a few days before the party, parents send in a sealed gift bag with a card, sweet snack, salty snack, and drink. Kids open the snack from their own house, so they should have something they like. If anyone is without a bag at the deadline, the room parent can easily assemble one.

For stations, we usually have a craft, BINGO, make home made play doh, and another game.

[gardengal]

Maybe too late for this year, but our room parents do an ask for money at the beginning of the year. The money goes for teacher gifts and party supplies.

They will also send out sign up geniuses for volunteers and if additional supplies are needed. It’s SUPER helpful if there’s a particular thing you need for a game/craft if you do an Amazon link. I’m blanking on what it was last year but the room parent asked for something really specific & I had no idea what they were wanting. I can figure out asks for pom-Pom balls, googly eyes, can of frosting, etc.

[icedcoffee]

Do you think it's better if I say "Supplies for an activity" and let them pick the activity they send supplies for or if I say "Supplies for marshmallow toothpick towers" with a link to this: buggyandbuddy.com/heart-marshmallow-toothpick-structures/

[nicolewi]

@mom186x wow, that seems extreme! What a bummer.

[icedcoffee]

Jan 11, 2023 12:53:16 GMT -5 186momx said:

I just can't believe there are school districts out there that still allow holidays to be celebrated in school let alone give up education time for a party. 6th grade and never have had a class party for any holiday. Hell, we aren't even allowed do Valentines or say happy Valentines. When DD was in 1st she read the history of Valentines and gave a speech to the principal and couldn't change anyone's mind.

That said DD exchanges Valentine's stuff with her gymnastic teammates.

I'm actually surprised we are because Halloween is no more in our school because it's not inclusive.  I don't understand how it's much different than V-Day, but okie dokie.

[nicolewi]

icedcoffee, I think it would be nice if you said “supplies for a short activity of your choice, or specifically for marshmallow towers… Link follows.”



Often one of our activities has been something someone has at home and can bring, like giant Jenga, ring toss, beanbag toss, etc.

[icedcoffee]

OK--I drafted a sign up genius and I'm feeling a little better about this. Ha!

[Poppy]

Our school calls it a Friendship Party but they exchange Valentines... Shrug.

I do think Halloween is more controversial and we have a significant fraction of students opt in to our alternative party.

[icedcoffee]

I think part of the problem here is my kids teacher is fairly newish (less than 5 years I think) and I'm not getting a lot of direction. He said he's meeting with a veteran teacher to discuss and will get back to me so PHEW on that.

[thebreakfastclub]

We have a sign up genius to either volunteer time or donate items. I don't want to attend the party, but I always donate some things. So I would not expect one person to buy all of the items.

[devonpow]

Jan 11, 2023 12:53:16 GMT -5 186momx said:

I just can't believe there are school districts out there that still allow holidays to be celebrated in school let alone give up education time for a party. 6th grade and never have had a class party for any holiday. Hell, we aren't even allowed do Valentines or say happy Valentines. When DD was in 1st she read the history of Valentines and gave a speech to the principal and couldn't change anyone's mind.

That said DD exchanges Valentine's stuff with her gymnastic teammates.

this is our district. I have a sophomore in high school and in all my years in public school with the the kids there have been zero class parties for anything(class shares etc, yes) . And I say thank goodness for that! Lol. For Valentine’s Day when the kids were in younger grades the teacher would email the parents the full class list with a request that if you brought valentines in you had to do it for the whole class. That’s it. I think even that petered out by 3rd or 4th grade. No outside food was ever allowed in classrooms (like birthday treats etc)

I mean, we have big after school/weekend/all school events like a Halloween fair and math and science nights etc. Lots of activities. But not during the day/in individual classrooms. Personally I’m thrilled by it.

[mcppalmbeach]

We have no parties for any holidays, but the kids are allowed to bring in valentine’s This makes me feel sad. I looovvveeedddd class parties in school.

[ssmjlm]

In kinder, they all did the same project, but at specific tables. I think it was easier for the teacher to sort of keep them at their table.

Snacks were after everyone was mostly done with the craft. They got it at the back central table, then brought their plates back to their seats.

[186momx]

devonpow, it's weird because some schools in our small district can get away with having Monster Mash Bingo evening event around Halloween and others admin won't allow it. Same thing with spirit week and dressing up for that.

DD's 1st grade teacher had tons of heart stickers and the kids made 10 cubes with heart stickers and decorated the classroom. This same teacher does gingerbread houses right before winter break and it is a geometry project to get around the rules. I'm glad we didn't do cards as most year DD had 36-40 kids in her class and that is just a crap ton of cards.

[noodleoo]

Jan 11, 2023 12:53:16 GMT -5 186momx said:

I just can't believe there are school districts out there that still allow holidays to be celebrated in school let alone give up education time for a party. 6th grade and never have had a class party for any holiday. Hell, we aren't even allowed do Valentines or say happy Valentines. When DD was in 1st she read the history of Valentines and gave a speech to the principal and couldn't change anyone's mind.

That said DD exchanges Valentine's stuff with her gymnastic teammates.

Our district is the same. I was talking to the school secretary and she was telling me how they used to do a huge Halloween party with costumes, trick or treating and a costume parade. It sounded so fun, I’m bummed our kids miss out. The PTO did an after hours Halloween party fundraiser that was cute though.

But no holiday parties during school hours anymore. They do random other things during the year. DD1 (2nd grade) is having a pj and movie party next week.

ETA: we don’t have room parents either. I’m always confused by those posts. We’re not really allowed in the school which I don’t know is a post-Covid thing or what. DD1 started K during Covid so I’m not sure what they did before.

[Poeticxpassion]

I planned the winter party for my son's class. I had one other parent helper (teacher picked 2 parents for each party Halloween, winter and Valentine's) we did 2 crafts, 1 activity and had some snacks. We served capri suns, a popcorn mix, apple sauce pouches, and the kids decorated mini white powdered donuts into snowmen.

These was a 3rd grade class, so you could definitely reduce it for Kindergarten kids.

I remember when I was a kid and one of the projects the week of Valentine's day was to make a holder for the cards. Many kids used paper bags and decorated them with stickers and markers. I would make sure the party is separate from the handing out the cards. All kids bring cards for everyone. NO names on the TO area, just who the card is from. It makes it much easier for the kids to hand them out.

[meanie]

I think your plan sounds good for an hour, it will go by really quickly.

Buy everything yourself, it is 1000x easier.

In the past I have done these -

- Bingo (I get the cards from Amazon for around $7 and buy cheap 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes from the dollar store

- Wood slice coloring (Amazon has these in a bunch of themes, color in with markers)

- Valentine making station - doily paper, stickers, markers, stamps

- Valentine box decorating (kids bring in a tissue or shoe box covered with paper)

- Cookie decorating, Rice Krispy treat decorating

- Hot cocoa station

With an hour I would have the kids come up to a snack table first, then have their snack while we play bingo or whatever game. After they clean up then do the craft - make this something they can finish at home if you run out of time.