FAQ
What is Brookside PJ Night?
Pajama Night is a wonderful event where Primary School students can wear their PJs to school for a giant party! Parents or caregivers can shop the Book Fair with their children. Students will enjoy crafts, activities, a movie, snacks, and more. You can RSVP here. Please remember that children must be chaperoned by a parent/caregiver at all times at PJ Night. The hours are 6:30-8pm.
Can siblings come to PJ Night?
The activities offered are for current Primary School students only. While we know this may be inconvenient, we’re unable to welcome siblings at PJ Night for the children’s safety. You’re invited to bring them to shop at the Middle School for Evening Edition on Monday, November 9, from 4 to 7 p.m.
What is the Book Fair: Evening Edition?
The Middle School hosts an Evening Edition event, and MKA students and parents/caregivers from ALL campuses are welcome to visit. Enjoy books and more for all ages: delicious refreshments and fun surprises! There will be pizza and baked goods for sale so that you can take care of holiday shopping, dinner, and dessert! The hours are 4-7pm.
What are the payment options during Book Fair?
The preferred method is payment by student account. At the registers, we can look up your student’s account, as needed. Credit card payment is an option, but is limited as we’ll only be taking credit card payments at one register.
How does my child pay for the books during the Book Fair school hours?
Your child will pay using their student charge account, their name, and the homeroom teacher’s name during the classroom visits. Parents are strongly encouraged to talk with their children about your family’s expectations for Book Fair purchases. Parents are also welcome to chaperone their Primary School student(s) during their class’s designated shopping time, which can be found on the Primary School page.
What is What is Spending Guidance?
At the Primary School, we suggest parents set a Spending Guidance for their child so that the floor volunteers and cashiers are aware of their budget while they are shopping at the Book Fair with their class. While the volunteers do their best to guide them in their selections, parents are strongly encouraged to talk with their children about your family’s expectations for Book Fair purchases.
The form to set the Primary School student’s budget can be found here. Please note that Primary School student charge purchases during Pajama Night or at the Book Fair Evening Edition are not allocated towards the student’s Spending Guidance.
The Middle School and Upper School do not have Spending Guidance, so please discuss spending expectations with your student(s).
Will my child be shopping alone?
In the Primary School, they will go shopping with their class during their scheduled time. The shopping schedule for the Primary School can be found on the PS webpage. A parent or caregiver may come and shop with them during that specific time, as well as during Pajama Night and Book Fair: Evening Edition.
The Middle and Upper School students can shop on their own time, with their class, and during Book Fair Evening Edition
How many times will my child be able to shop?
At the Primary School, your child will be able to shop with their class, and with a parent/caregiver after school until 3:00 p.m., at Pajama Night, and during Book Fair: Evening Edition at the Middle School.
The Middle and Upper School students can shop whenever they have free time. All MKA students and caregivers can shop during Book Fair: Evening Edition at the Middle School.
Why pre-order books?
When you pre-order books from the visiting authors from ANY campus, you will have them signed and delivered to your child. All orders need to be submitted by November 7th, midnight.
Important notes:
For Primary School students: Pre-ordering is the REQUIRED to receive an author-signed book. Students will not be allowed to get books signed on the day of the author visit without a completed form.
- For Middle School students: Pre-ordering is OPTIONAL, but recommended. Students may purchase books during the fair and have them signed by the authors. However, to guarantee a signed book, a pre-order form must be submitted.
What are teacher picks at Brookside?
Teacher picks are books that you can purchase to donate to a teacher’s classroom at Brookside. Once purchased, your book will be delivered to the specified teacher.
What are Gift Certificates?
By completing this form, you can purchase Gift Certificates as a gift to your teacher or a chosen staff member to purchase books from the Book Fair.
Gift Certificates can be purchased at PJ Night, Middle School: Evening Edition, and online by Monday, Nov 9.
What is the Faculty and Staff Tea?
The Book Fair is one way we give thanks to our teachers, administrators, and staff. At the Faculty and Staff Tea, they can shop using Gift Certificates.
Teachers can also preview new books at the Fair, select Teachers’ Picks for their classrooms, and recommend age-appropriate reading for our kids.
How can I volunteer/help?
In-person volunteering begins with set up on Wed. Nov 4 at the Middle School and concludes with break down on Wed. Nov 11 midday at both Primary and Middle School Campuses. Volunteers can help with set up, registers, book fair sales, break down, PJ night, Evening Edition and more! Parents of all campuses are encouraged to volunteer for any campus.
Sign-ups for Primary School can be found here.
Sign-up for Middle School can be found here.
Donations for the Faculty and Staff Teas (PS & MS) are also another way to help.
Do I need any training to be a volunteer?
NO! Each campus has a volunteer coordinator who will be on campus to help explain any position you sign up for, including cashiers. If you are a cashier, please come a few minutes early to your shift, and we will do a quick run-through. For more questions, Primary School Volunteer coordinators are Sonia Datwani and Rene Watkins and Middle School Volunteer Coordinators are Megan Flick, Elise Hubert, and Valerie Puryear.