Toasts are family-hosted parties that honor our incredible educators, and raise funds for MFEE's Educational Excellence Grants - fueling teachers' ideas and initiatives! You choose the person - or group of people - that you'd like to honor!
MFEE Toast to the Teachers is a long-standing tradition of the Montclair Public Schools. These family-hosted parties take place at the end of every school year. Ticket sales for the parties help raise critical funds to support MFEE Educational Excellence Grants, which allow teachers to pilot innovative projects, tools, and experiences for our children.
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Your donations help MFEE award approximately $65,000 in Educational Excellence grants each year to support everything from engaging literature for classroom libraries to grade-level materials to enliven science, to school-wide initiatives to inspire writers.
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Toasts can be everything from an adults-only gathering at a home to an after school picnic in the park for the class.
Where can I host a Toast?
​Toasts can happen anywhere you want folks to gather! Some popular ideas:
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Outside the school (ake sure to discuss it with your school's principal first!)
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At your house - inside, outside, whatever you like!
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Park or playground (In order to host a Toast in a Montclair Township or Essex County park, the host must get a permit and pay a fee. We can guide you through this.)
What are some Toast ideas?
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Playground meet up with a visit from an ice cream truck
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Outdoor picnic with a visit from a food truck
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Adults-only evening party
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Class hike at Eagle Rock or Mills (hosts provide snacks and water)
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Weekend morning “gym” class for kids with an instructor from a local gym or jiu jitsu studio (and coffee for the adults!)
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Outdoor craft party - create art and memories
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Adults-only class - flower arranging with a local florist? learning to knit with Yarnia? No limits!
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Family activity at a local venue - like renting Clary Anderson arena and hosting a private ice skating time or booking time at Gravity Vault or another local indoor gym for the kids.
2022 Toast Spotlight
Renaissance Middle School
Renaissance Middle School hosted an afterschool potluck gathering for the whole school. The toast was an adults-only gathering to honor beloved retiring teachers on a Friday from 4-6pm at the school. Ticket price was pay what you can, with a minimum suggested donation of only $5/adult. Families enjoyed getting the chance to gather with staff and teachers!
Ready to Host a Toast?
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Choose a special teacher, principal, coach, or other person from Montclair Public Schools. Don't forget to include classroom paraprofessionals who do so much to support all of the classroom's students.
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Check in with your honoree(s) to: a) pick a date b) choose the type of party), and c) decide where you will host the party.
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Register to Host a Toast below as soon as you can, but no later than 1 week before your party date. We’ll help set the party fee.
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Once we receive your completed Host form, we’ll create an online registration page that you can share with families.
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Toast hosts cover the (tax-deductible) costs of the parties (teaming up with other families is a great idea!).