It’s a Wednesday

[vino]

lahdeedah I'm annoyed for you, is she asking for money or things? In any case I'd be annoyed about the 'ask' twice a month. If a teacher is organized and taught a class before then they should know what the needs are, if you need X amount of dollars per year, send that in an info letter outlining what for. If it's for things I would be highly annoyed if I had to run around searching for shit. Being organized and efficient is my wheelhouse, this annoys me the more I think of it.

[slenle]

Oct 9, 2019 11:38:24 GMT -6 wineallthetime said:

I sure want a cookie right now.

Dh went out to get us subway late last night and they were out of cookies! How does that happen? I was very disappointed and had to settle for a vending machine snickers.

[slenle]

Thanks for all the well wishes! Little L is doing great. He’s been pretty sleepy today and hasn’t nursed much so he’ll probably want to eat all night. I got a good night sleep which felt great. We have a lot of visitors coming tonight but I’d rather it happen at the hospital than at home.

[inthekitty]

Oct 9, 2019 12:41:26 GMT -6 vino said:

lahdeedah I'm annoyed for you, is she asking for money or things? In any case I'd be annoyed about the 'ask' twice a month. If a teacher is organized and taught a class before then they should know what the needs are, if you need X amount of dollars per year, send that in an info letter outlining what for. If it's for things I would be highly annoyed if I had to run around searching for shit. Being organized and efficient is my wheelhouse, this annoys me the more I think of it.

I agree that twice a month seems excessive. Unless your school doesn't have any basic supplies, the teacher should work primarily within the limit of what they have and the supplies requested at the beginning of the year. Occasionally requesting an item here or there--meh. I also hate making special trips to the store for random stuff. 

[flamingo]

Oct 9, 2019 11:29:18 GMT -6 tallb said:

flamingo N had some used UGGs last year and they were super cute and seemed warm. I paid $10 though and not sure we got enough use out of them to pay full price, but do pair nicely with leggings and skinny pants. Are you thinking for B too? I don't think they are easy to style for boys

No, just for C. I usually do some sort of Sperry boot-shoe (kind of a chukka style, I guess?) for B. 

Part of me recoils at the thought of paying Ugg prices, but that's roughly what I spend on her leather Footmate school shoes, so it's not that different, I guess. I might go to DSW or Nordstrom Rack and check the quality of the Ugg 'sister' brand. 

[vino]

flamingo I'm not sure how wet your area is but IMO the UGG's look terrible once they get wet/a little dirty. Many people have them around here and they can look awful real quick. Just my two cents.

[flamingo]

lahdeedah Is this a public or private school? I can't recall what y'all opted to do after the move. Private, I'd be annoyed b/c hello, tuition! And usually there's also some sort of annual 'student fee' that covers that. Public, I'm slightly more understanding of, but I agree it's off-putting.

Our first preschool here, we were always having to send in bits of money or random supplies. Which, fine, but they also had one of the highest tuitions of any of the schools we looked at. 

At the elementary level, our PTA is very active, and so far any ask for a donation/contribution has come from them or the Room Mother (our room moms are somehow tied in with PTA). For example, signing up to donate something for our class' themed basket for a raffle fundraiser. 

[lahdeedah]

From your responses, it seems like it’s excessive. For example these are the asks so far this year:

-a few things she needed for some of the centers ( astrobrights paper, kwik stix, light bright)
-for the rock your school event- a lot of little supplies to decorate classroom- mostly from the dollar store, but in multiples
-they have a character called zero the hero and they have zero shaped treats on certain days that end in zero throughout the year( I signed up for the 80th day of school because is falls on M’s birthday)
-I’m them with above, they are doing 50s day. I don’t actually get this. The kids are encouraged to dress up in 50s attire and there is a sign up for this. M probably won’t even want to participate.
-she sent on last night for a sign up for a glow games day they are doing on Halloween. Last week she sent out an email asking for three black lights that were $30 a piece.

I’m sure there will be sign ups for parties too when we get closer.

As far as PTO goes, they do a lot of fundraising and I’m sure they make a lot, in addition to what we paid to join. Our PTO actually pays the salary of the art teacher in addition to other things needed for the school. We wouldn’t have an art teacher otherwise.

I’m sure Mississippi is lacking in funding of schools, but this seems a little excessive. I think most teachers here do this- at least at our school. I wonder if it’s because of the area we are in, they know most parents are willing to help out. I don’t mind a few things here and there, but it’s starting to feel like every other week it’s something else.

[flamingo]

Oct 9, 2019 13:39:45 GMT -6 vino said:

flamingo I'm not sure how wet your area is but IMO the UGG's look terrible once they get wet/a little dirty. Many people have them around here and they can look awful real quick. Just my two cents.

We don't get the snow--knock on wood--and yeah, I agree these would not be water/snow boots. I see some people wear them that way but we'd wear...rain or snow boots for that!

[nam2013]

flamingo I’ll admit I spend a whole lot more on DD’s deer boots... I’d been drooling over them for almost two years, so I allowed myself a rare splurge 😉.

[vino]

lahdeedah I would absolutely be sending an email to the teacher and advising her to plan ahead and notify you appropriately, not what seems like a constant stream of thoughts from 'cool' ideas' from the teacher. This would be a hell no in my world.

[peachsmama]

We paid $40 at the beginning of the year and took in 3 or 4 items from a supply list.

For parties the room moms send out a link to a list on sign up genius to all the parents emails, because we have to be as paperless as possible. We aren't allowed to ask for money. So we have to list each item. My co room mom said kindergarten moms are the best because everyone is eager to help during their kids first year. Our list was covered in 3 days. Apparently by 3rd grade you have to send the email over and over lol.

Our PTO is free. We do the carnival, our biggest fundraiser and it almost pays for all we do all year. Then the greenery sale for Christmas. A few other small things near year end.

Our PTO seems really well run so I'm excited to be involved.

[flamingo]

lahdeedah I posted b/4 I saw your response...black-lights?! Yeah, no. I agree, some of that stuff seems excessive. I mean maybe if I just had one lying around, I'd donate it, but otherwise, probably not.

eta: If you feel inclined to donate and/or it's convenient, great, but I would not feel pressured and do not feel the kids' education is going to be adversely affected b/c there aren't dollar-store decorations up on 50s Day. 

[peachsmama]

Oct 9, 2019 13:45:41 GMT -6 flamingo said:

lahdeedah I posted b/4 I saw your response...black-lights?! Yeah, no. I agree, that seems excessive. I mean maybe if I just had one lying around, I'd donate it, but otherwise, probably not.

Yea high dollar items bother me. At orientation she also said if we see cotton balls, paper towels, little cups and a few other things like that on sale and wanted to bring in one she won't protest lol.

[flamingo]

Oct 9, 2019 13:50:16 GMT -6 peachsmama said:

Oct 9, 2019 13:45:41 GMT -6 flamingo said:

lahdeedah I posted b/4 I saw your response...black-lights?! Yeah, no. I agree, that seems excessive. I mean maybe if I just had one lying around, I'd donate it, but otherwise, probably not.

Yea high dollar items bother me. At orientation she also said if we see cotton balls, paper towels, little cups and a few other things like that on sale and wanted to bring in one she won't protest lol.

Yes, I thought I'd check in before the holidays and see if any refreshers were needed as far as the communal supplies (with the exception of a couple items, everything on the back-to-school list is combined and used by the whole class) 

[lahdeedah]

flamingo Public. I was so glad to be in a good school district and not have to pay tuition. I wish I knew other people at the different t schools in our county to see if it’s just our school or if it’s county wide.

[klong11]

lahdeedah, some of that seems excessive. Is the whole school doing glow day? If so, then the school should pay for blacklights. If it's just their class, then she needs to find other ways to entertain the kids that doesn't require so much money. Not every week needs a party. You might even ask her if there is a way she can put all her ideas for the year on paper so that she can find a reasonable sum that the parents' can just donate for the entire year rather than all these $5 here, $20 there. I would also be the mom at the parties looking around to make sure my money is actually being used on things. If every parent donated $10 for 1 party and you get there and just see a couple of dollar store items sprinkled around the room, I would start wondering where my money was actually going.

[inthekitty]

lahdeedah , is the teacher fairly young and inexperienced? It sounds like someone who has all these grand ideas to do the most (much of which is completely unnecessary) but of course all of these plans would cost a lot and knows other teachers ask for donations occasionally and has taken it too far. I'd probably just ignore most requests. The teacher will figure out how to make do.



ETA: And outside of food, with a few exceptions, most of the donations the girls' teachers have asked for are things sitting around the house waiting to be recycled (paper grocery bags, egg cartons, and occasionally legitimate art supplies like pipe cleaners).



ETA #2: (Spoken like an 80 yo while shaking cane) when I was a kid we decorated for our own parties!!1! But, for real, we did. Part of the fun of the parties when making the decorations. You shouldn't need to buy any decorations for a classroom party. 

[lahdeedah]

Oct 9, 2019 13:44:31 GMT -6 vino said:

lahdeedah I would absolutely be sending an email to the teacher and advising her to plan ahead and notify you appropriately, not what seems like a constant stream of thoughts from 'cool' ideas' from the teacher. This would be a hell no in my world.

I think this is grade wide. Like I’m assuming most of the teachers in his grade do this because these special activity days happen in all 8 K5 classes. I work two other people that have kids in this school, so I need to ask them, too. I won’t see one until Friday, and the other is on vacation now.

[jewels]

Oct 9, 2019 13:41:12 GMT -6 lahdeedah said:

From your responses, it seems like it’s excessive. For example these are the asks so far this year:

-a few things she needed for some of the centers ( astrobrights paper, kwik stix, light bright)
-for the rock your school event- a lot of little supplies to decorate classroom- mostly from the dollar store, but in multiples
-they have a character called zero the hero and they have zero shaped treats on certain days that end in zero throughout the year( I signed up for the 80th day of school because is falls on M’s birthday)
-I’m them with above, they are doing 50s day. I don’t actually get this. The kids are encouraged to dress up in 50s attire and there is a sign up for this. M probably won’t even want to participate.
-she sent on last night for a sign up for a glow games day they are doing on Halloween. Last week she sent out an email asking for three black lights that were $30 a piece.

I’m sure there will be sign ups for parties too when we get closer.

As far as PTO goes, they do a lot of fundraising and I’m sure they make a lot, in addition to what we paid to join. Our PTO actually pays the salary of the art teacher in addition to other things needed for the school. We wouldn’t have an art teacher otherwise.

I’m sure Mississippi is lacking in funding of schools, but this seems a little excessive. I think most teachers here do this- at least at our school. I wonder if it’s because of the area we are in, they know most parents are willing to help out. I don’t mind a few things here and there, but it’s starting to feel like every other week it’s something else.

Yeah, and honestly, even if it was a lot, I'd prefer it all at once, or at least monthly - hey here are the things coming up this month.  Or a sign up at the beginning of the year for everything, if they are asking for individuals to donate different things.

[jewels]

lahdeedah 8 K Classes! That's a huge school!!! S has 3 K Classes!

How many kids are in his class?

[flamingo]

jewels I was thinking that, too. Would much prefer looking at a fall calendar/list of "nice to have's" vs. getting a weekly email hitting me up for more stuff.

inthekitty Yep, I remember making decorations, too. #GeriatricsUnite!

At our current preschool, at most we'll get asked for $2 for a Halloween pizza party or similar. Each class hosts 1 annual 'event' for parents each year (Mother's Day Tea, Valentine party, etc) and that is all covered by the school, as well. We didn't even have to bring school supplies...they charge a supply fee at registration that covers everything for the year. I prefer that and just having it done so that the teachers can use it for their discretion.

[lahdeedah]

Oct 9, 2019 14:09:48 GMT -6 jewels said:

lahdeedah 8 K Classes! That's a huge school!!! S has 3 K Classes!

How many kids are in his class?

24 in his class.

[peachsmama]

Oct 9, 2019 14:24:07 GMT -6 flamingo said:

jewels I was thinking that, too. Would much prefer looking at a fall calendar/list of "nice to have's" vs. getting a weekly email hitting me up for more stuff.

inthekitty Yep, I remember making decorations, too. #GeriatricsUnite!

At our current preschool, at most we'll get asked for $2 for a Halloween pizza party or similar. Each class hosts 1 annual 'event' for parents each year (Mother's Day Tea, Valentine party, etc) and that is all covered by the school, as well. We didn't even have to bring school supplies...they charge a supply fee at registration that covers everything for the year. I prefer that and just having it done so that the teachers can use it for their discretion.

Our list was very short and we gave 40 bucks. She said that's because she can buy things in large quantities cheaper through teacher sites than we can get at the store.

[lahdeedah]

inthekitty I think she is in her 30s, but I don’t think she is married. Our classroom has an assistant, too.

I’m glad y’all are as WTF about this as I am. I just didn’t know if this was normal or not. I get the whole make learning fun, but I’m over all the sign up genius in my inbox.

I don’t feel pressured to buy everything, but I’m just annoyed at how much they ask for.

[wineallthetime]

Oct 9, 2019 12:43:32 GMT -6 slenle said:

Oct 9, 2019 11:38:24 GMT -6 wineallthetime said:

I sure want a cookie right now.

Dh went out to get us subway late last night and they were out of cookies! How does that happen? I was very disappointed and had to settle for a vending machine snickers.

Did he tell them you just gave birth and they best get in the back and make you more!?

[snoopmommymom]

slenle Congrats! Enjoy the newborn snuggles.

[kim22]

lahdeedah that’s a lot to ask for. I’ve always been a middle school teacher but if my school can’t get it and I don’t want to buy it myself, we make do without. T’s kindergarten teacher had papers you could take at back to school night with things she wanted if you wanted to donate but they were things such as ziplock bags and baby wipes so I got a few because they were just a few dollars.

My new school is title 1, my previous was not and it is so much easier to get supplies because they receive a lot more money.

[kim22]

I’m just looking at my calendar and testing my babysitter all the dates I need her. I really should just ask her to drop out of college and move in...

[flamingo]

Oct 9, 2019 16:53:15 GMT -6 kim22 said:

I’m just looking at my calendar and testing my babysitter all the dates I need her. I really should just ask her to drop out of college and move in...

At the rate good babysitters are paid nowadays, it might be more lucrative for her, anyway! LOL.