I'm glad we don't have anything like this here. The teacher puts out sign-up lists for the class parties (Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's), generally on the first day of school or at the first Open House a few weeks into the school year, and we can sign up for what we'd like to bring, or not. Someone signs up on that list to be the one to call everyone and remind them when the party is near. If your kid needs more glue or pencils or something, the teacher sends home a note (hardly ever happens). There are moms who volunteer and go in to help with things like cutting and copying and stapling, but as far as I know they aren't organized into a posse or anything. They are, of course, the PTA types, which is the "clique" and I avoid them as well as I can. I work and don't get to the school much, so I don't have to worry about all of that. Thank goodness.
We don't have any organized teacher gift thing, or if we do, nobody's ever told me or asked for money.
