Friends of PCS

Homeroom Parent (HRP) Roles & Responsibilities

1. Purpose

This document explains the roles and responsibilities of PCS Homeroom Parents (HRPs). It is reviewed and updated each year to stay aligned with school and teacher needs.

Friends of PCS also hosts orientation and support sessions to:

  • Answer detailed questions
  • Share best practices
  • Help forecast budgetary needs

2. Why Homeroom Parents?

Homeroom Parents (HRPs) are parent volunteers who act as liaisons between:

  • Teachers (via Assistant Heads of Schools, or AHOS)
  • Parents in the grade
  • Friends of PCS (via the HRP Coordinator, or HRPC)

Purpose:

  • Support teachers
  • Enhance the classroom experience for students
  • Strengthen PCS long-term by:
    • Facilitating communication
    • Organizing events
    • Coordinating volunteers

3. Time Commitment

  • HRPs fulfill four roles:
    • Communications
    • Treasury
    • Networking & Fundraising
    • Community Builder
  • Typically, HRPs will spend 1–3 hours when planning activities ( K-4 Parents - please see the “What to Expect” document shared by Ms Dowling in the Parent letter - 9/12 for the list of activities by grade). For the rest of the year, meetings will be held as needed.

Volunteers (non-HRPs):

  • May sign up to support specific events/projects or recurring functions (e.g. holiday parties)
  • During signup, please indicate your availability (day/week/month) or special resources you can offer

4. Meetings & Communication (HRPs only)

  • Hold in-person HRP meetings every other month
  • Share updates, creative ideas, and document highlights for all grade parents

Communication standards:

  • Respond to emails/texts within 48 hours (or by a promised timeline)
  • Notify fellow HRPs of extended absences

Accountability:

  • Missing 3+ meetings or ignoring communications may result in removal and replacement by a backup HRP
  • Misuse of funds, unprofessional conduct, or failure to fulfill duties will result in immediate removal
  • If no HRPs are available for a grade, Friends/HRPC will cover the most urgent functions

5. HRP Roles & Responsibilities

Each grade-level HRP team should ideally have:

  • 4 main HRPs (only 1 per role)
  • Up to 2 backups (shadowing roles and stepping in if needed)
  • Unlimited volunteers

Roles:

Communications

  • Share teacher requirements (via AHOS)
  • Send Friends updates, reminders, activity plans, holiday party info, etc.
  • Write letters to parents, record meeting minutes, prepare announcements

Treasury

  • Manage class funds: collection, budgeting, payments
  • Prepare financial statements and annual budget
  • Provide financial updates for class letters
  • Send a confirmation email to each parent when funds are received, and cc HRPs on all communications to ensure transparency and accuracy
  • Best suited for those with accounting/finance or strong organizational skills

Networking & Fundraising

  • Identify business sponsors and useful resources
  • Create signups for class activities
  • Best suited for people comfortable with social/business networking

Community Builder

  • Plan social and holiday parties
  • Coordinate with other HRPs on fundraising events
  • Ideal for enthusiastic, creative hosts

Key HRP Activities

HRPs will be required mostly during the planning and implementation of the following activities:

  • September – Purchase classroom supplies (for k-4 only) 
  • September -  Family social and prepare budget
  • October 31 – Halloween class party
  • December 16 – Winter class party
  • February (mid) – 100th Day celebration (for k-4 only) 
  • February 13 – Valentine’s Day class party
  • May (first week) – Teacher Appreciation Week 
  • June – End-of-year class party / Awards Ceremony

Note: While roles are divided, all HRPs are expected to collaborate on larger projects or when a grade lacks sufficient volunteers. HRPs should remain informed of all school-wide activities.

6. HRP Coordinator (HRPC)

HRPC: Salam Dayekh

Salam is the parent of two PCS students (Grades 4 & 5), has served on the Friends Board for four years, leads the PCS Book Fair, and serves as the direct liaison to the Friends Board

7. How to Benefit from Your HRPC

Examples include:

  • Checking for conflicts with school activities and calendar
  • Requesting volunteer backup for large undertakings
  • Attending orientation or support sessions (Treasury, budgeting, fundraising, savings goals, etc.)
  • Accessing best practices from other grades
  • Requesting help in removing non-functioning HRPs

8. Contact

For questions or support, reach out to your HRPC or Friends Board.

Yours sincerely,

Friends of PCS

HRP Coordinator    President of Friends

Salam Dayekh         Maryam Simons