Room Parent Resources

Room Parents – thank you for your service!

Please click on the links below for forms and more information that can help save you time.

Main room parent responsibilities

  • Be the class liaison between the PTO and the class parents
  • Assist teachers with field trips.  This requires helping coordinate drivers and chaperones for field trips.  For younger grades the drivers are required to have first aid/CPR and background checks (see below)
  • Work with teachers to identify parties for the year, and help coordinate volunteers.
  • Determine the lead person in charge of the Auction Art Project or Basket.
  • Room parents may be responsible for sending out emails to parents from different sources within the school.  However, most communication should be through “In the Know”
  • Be the lead person for Teacher Appreciation Day
  • Some classes like to do Memory Books for the year.  The room parent is usually responsible for leading this or getting volunteers to help with this.
  • Assist the teachers with the school performances – Winter Festival, and Track Specific Festivals.  Sometimes this requires working with teachers on chaperoning, or assisting with brainstorming costume ideas.
  • It is really important that you work closely with the teacher on what they see your role as room parent will be.  Each teacher is different.  You will find that there are teachers that want the room parent to help out a lot, other teachers may take on more of that responsibility.
  • Curriculum night – This is a great time for the room parent to set the stage for the coming year.  It’s important to discuss with other families about volunteering, auction project, field trips, etc.
  • Assist families with entering their volunteer hours in the Volunteer Counter
  • Room parents are NOT to collect funds from other parents for a class fund

** Please note – the room parent is not responsible for everything.  Please make sure the other parents in class to volunteer for individual jobs. The room parent is responsible for leading and delegating.

Class Expenses
Expenses such as costumes, class celebrations (2 per year) and up to 6 curriculum-related field trips per year are covered by the school when these items are budgeted by the teacher. If parents do spend money on behalf of the school, such expenses must be pre-approved through the TIS purchase order and reimbursement process (see section on “Expense Reimbursement” in the TIS Parent Handbook). Room parents or other parents should not be collecting money from class parents for a class fund

Sharing the work

Log volunteer hours: intlschool.org/volunteer

  • Encourage parents to login to the site to show areas that families are interested in volunteering.  Also, all hours should be logged in the Volunteer Counter.

Class web pages

  • Find your class web page by going to intlschool.org/parent/login, enter the All-Parent Password
  • For you or another parent to edit the class web site, ask the teacher to set you or that person up as an owner

Field Trips

Background checks
TIS requires all volunteers to do the Oregon state background check. Please use the following:

  • Online Registration: bit.ly/intlschool-bc
  • Input our Child Care Center License Number – CC001425
  • Telephone Number 503-226-2496 x 103
  • Position: Volunteer

Once you have completed this, it takes 3-5 days for processing. You will receive a letter confirming your enrollment and we will automatically receive notification.

If you did the background check without knowing our license number, please submit a copy of your letter to any receptionist and Jhoanna will make sure you are linked to the school. When you renew, the notice will automatically be sent to TIS.

The school office can tell room parents which parents have done the background check, submitted drivers’ license, insurance card, CPR/first air certification, etc.

Out of state parents (i.e. Washington or those who have not lived in Oregon for more than 18 months) might need to undergo a fingerprinting process that might cost more than the $3 fee. It is good for two years and can be used for different child care facilities in Oregon, too.

Resource people

If you ever have any questions, please get in touch!

Jennifer Farmer, PTO Volunteer Coordinator
 volunteer@intlschool.org