Rodgers School

Your child’s birthday is a very special day! As we follow the New Jersey Public School Nutrition Guidelines and also stay sensitive to public health limitations, students with dietary restrictions, and students with food allergies, we are offering you some creative ways to celebrate your child’s special day instead of celebrating with food.  Teachers usually offer the celebrant items such as a birthday crown, card, prize, etc. to honor him/her.

We wish to make your child the focus rather than having food as the focus.

Please keep in mind that the school day needs to stay on schedule as much as possible, so birthday celebrations should be meaningful, but brief.  Your child’s teacher must be notified well IN ADVANCE of your thoughts/plans. Again, please understand that the school day should be minimally interrupted.

 Here are some creative ways to celebrate your child’s birthday at school if you choose to do so;

it is certainly not required, as it is the personal choice of each family:

• Donate a book to your child’s classroom. A label may be placed on the book, acknowledging your child’s donation.
• Choose your child’s favorite story from home and send it in for us to read.
  
• Donate a game or puzzle in honor of your child’s birthday. A label may be placed on the item, acknowledging your child’s donation.
• Email or send in some pictures of your child’s earlier years of life to his or her teacher to share with classmates.
  
• Send in inexpensive tokens for the class, such as birthday stickers, pencils, or simple novelties to be sent home with each classmate. No balloons, candy, or snacks, please.
• The class may participate in a brief “dance party” using favorite movement videos with a birthday theme (Jack Hartmann, Go Noodle, Singing Walrus, Danny Go, etc.).

If you think of any other simple, creative ways to celebrate, we are open to suggestions.

Thank you for your valuable cooperation and support!