December school-parent checklist

Steps

1. Put winter break, early-release days and the first day back on the family calendar from the district's official calendar, not a flyer.
2. Check that closure and delay alerts reach you: confirm your phone number and email with the school office, and set the school app (ParentSquare, Remind, ClassDojo or your district's app) to deliver urgent alerts instantly even if everything else is a digest.
3. Update pickup permissions and emergency contacts before substitutes and holiday schedules kick in.
4. Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday after US Thanksgiving (December 1 in 2026). If your PTA takes part, send the thank-you and the total raised in the first week of December.
5. Wrap up holiday food and coat drives: deliver to your partner organization before break, then share totals and thank volunteers.
6. Teacher and staff thank-yous: keep gifts optional and give families a no-cost option such as a handwritten note from the student.
7. Sweep the lost-and-found with your child before break, and return library books and borrowed devices if the school asks.
8. Winter clothes check: layers, a hat, mittens or gloves, and insulated boots, plus a dry change of clothes in the backpack for younger kids.

Cold-weather basics

• The American Academy of Pediatrics notes children lose heat faster than adults because their bodies are smaller, and may not want to come inside when they're getting cold.
• AAP guidance: several thin layers, insulated boots, mittens or gloves and a hat are essential; change out of wet clothes right away.
• AAP generally advises avoiding outdoor play when temperatures or wind chills are below -15°F, because exposed skin begins to freeze within minutes.
• For sledding, AAP says children under 12 should always be supervised, and sledding feet first or sitting up may prevent head injuries.

Sources

HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics): Playing Outside in Winter: Tips to Keep Kids Warm & Safe — https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Winter-Safety.aspx

Related

• Holiday food drive playbook for a PTA or PTO
• Winter coat and clothing drive playbook for a PTA or PTO
• Giving Tuesday playbook for a PTA or PTO
• How to cut ParentSquare notifications down to what matters
• Remind: choose text vs app, and stop double alerts
• November school-parent checklist

FAQ