Cleaning Parties FAQs
All families are required to work one cleaning party per term (fall, winter/spring, and summer) in addition to their regular Sunnyside job. Cleaning party hours do not count toward your monthly 3-hour parent work requirement
Q: What is a cleaning party?
A cleaning party is when a group of Sunnyside parents get together on a Saturday morning and clean Sunnyside from top to bottom. We clean classrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, the porch, and the playgrounds.
Q: Why do we need to clean? Don't the janitors do that?
The janitorial service provides daily/weekly cleaning of the bathroom sinks and toilets, emptying of the trash, vacuuming, and mopping of the floors with a string mop. The more comprehensive cleaning falls to the parent co-op, which is why we need all families to participate in the cleaning throughout the year.
Q: Why is it called a 'party'?
Although cleaning is hard work, there is a social and community aspect to this work detail. It's a chance to get to know other parents and kids, and, unlike at your house where you usually scrub toilets in solitude, here you have a companion. Parents have frequently commented positively on the social aspect of cleaning parties:
"I thought the cleaning was going to be arduous; instead I was surprised to find myself more deeply committed to my daughter's class and I loved getting to know some other families." (Parent)
Q: Who is required to work at these parties?
Every Sunnyside family is required to work at one cleaning party a term (fall, winter/spring, and summer).
Q: Do I have to clean even if I choose the non-work option?
Yes. We believe the most fair and effective system is one that asks for 100 participation in cleaning parties.
Q: Do I have to clean if I already have more than enough hours for the term?
Yes.
Q: How often do I need to do one of these cleaning parties?
Each family is required to do one cleaning party per term—one in fall, one in the winter/spring, and one in the summer. On occasion, families who have not worked all their hours may be asked to do extra cleaning to fulfill their parent work obligation.
Q: How do I learn the nuts and bolts of the cleaning party system?
There will be a Sunnyside Opening Day Mandatory Meeting in September in each classroom. During that meeting, your Classroom cleaning representative will introduce him/herself to you, explain the system, and answer any questions you may have.
Q: When are these cleaning parties?
Cleaning parties take place one Saturday morning a month. You will receive a schedule of cleaning parties each term. If you have schedule conflicts, please call your cleaning representative.
Q: What if I need to change the date of my cleaning party?
Call your classroom cleaning representative. She or he will be handling the schedule.
Q: What should I do if I am unexpectedly unable to attend the cleaning party to which I am assigned?
Call the classroom cleaning representative and reschedule your cleaning time.
Q: What should I do if I have any questions?
Call your Classroom cleaning representative with any questions you have.
Q: What exactly do I clean?
Your Classroom cleaning representative will coordinate that. Also, there will be handouts at the cleaning parties with explicit instructions. Essentially, Younger Group families clean the Younger Group's classrooms, the kitchen, bathroom, and diaper changing area. Middle Group families clean the Middle Group's classrooms, the front hallway, stairs, and back porch. The Upstairs Group families clean the entire second and third floors. Often there will be outdoor work as well. Classroom cleaning reps will work out those details for the cleaning party.
Q: Once I do my cleaning party, how do I get credit?
On your monthly bill is a line where you indicate when you did your cleaning party. Just fill in the date there.
Q: What happens if I don't clean?
Each family will be assessed a $50 penalty for each term in which they did not participate in a cleaning party.
Q: Are there any benefits from participating in a cleaning party?
The most obvious benefit is that your child goes to a classroom and building that is clean, which not only makes for a more pleasant environment but also reduces the spread of illness. In addition, there are benefits to you. Cleaning helps you feel invested in your child's pre-school care and allows you to feel part of the community. It enables you to become more familiar with Sunnyside. Not to mention, it's a way of saving money for Sunnyside; our cleaning allows the bulk of our tuition to go directly to teacher salaries and quality materials. Also, teachers appreciate a clean classroom; that way they can concentrate on what they do best—teaching, not cleaning. Finally, the cleaning parties help you connect with other Sunnyside families.
"One reason we chose Sunnyside was because of the co-op model; we wanted a place that welcomed, nurtured, and expected reciprocity between parents and staff." (Parent)
"The parental involvement in the co-op makes all the difference to the work environment." (Staff)
"I got great ideas for my kid's birthday party at one of the cleaning parties." (Parent)
Q: When are these cleaning parties?
Cleaning parties take place one Saturday morning a month. You will receive a schedule of cleaning parties each term. If you have schedule conflicts, please call your cleaning representative.
Q: What if I need to change the date of my cleaning party?
Call your classroom cleaning representative. She or he will be handling the schedule.
Q: What should I do if I am unexpectedly unable to attend the cleaning party to which I am assigned?
Call the classroom cleaning representative and reschedule your cleaning time.
Q: What should I do if I have any questions?
Call your Classroom cleaning representative with any questions you have.
Q: What exactly do I clean?
Your Classroom cleaning representative will coordinate that. Also, there will be handouts at the cleaning parties with explicit instructions. Essentially, Younger Group families clean the Younger Group's classrooms, the kitchen, bathroom, and diaper changing area. Middle Group families clean the Middle Group's classrooms, the front hallway, stairs, and back porch. The Upstairs Group families clean the entire second and third floors. Often there will be outdoor work as well. Classroom cleaning reps will work out those details for the cleaning party.
Q: Once I do my cleaning party, how do I get credit?
On your monthly bill is a line where you indicate when you did your cleaning party. Just fill in the date there.
Q: What happens if I don't clean?
Each family will be assessed a $50 penalty for each term in which they did not participate in a cleaning party.
Q: Are there any benefits from participating in a cleaning party?
The most obvious benefit is that your child goes to a classroom and building that is clean, which not only makes for a more pleasant environment but also reduces the spread of illness. In addition, there are benefits to you. Cleaning helps you feel invested in your child's pre-school care and allows you to feel part of the community. It enables you to become more familiar with Sunnyside. Not to mention, it's a way of saving money for Sunnyside; our cleaning allows the bulk of our tuition to go directly to teacher salaries and quality materials. Also, teachers appreciate a clean classroom; that way they can concentrate on what they do best—teaching, not cleaning. Finally, the cleaning parties help you connect with other Sunnyside families.
"One reason we chose Sunnyside was because of the co-op model; we wanted a place that welcomed, nurtured, and expected reciprocity between parents and staff." (Parent)
"The parental involvement in the co-op makes all the difference to the work environment." (Staff)
"I got great ideas for my kid's birthday party at one of the cleaning parties." (Parent)