How to run candy grams with this kit
- Pick what you are selling, then add prices and any deal (3 for $1) under Set up. Paste your homerooms in the order you will walk them.
- Type each paper slip into the order box, or paste the rows from a sign-up form. With a class list pasted too, a name alone finds its homeroom.
- Clear the “Needs a look” list: missing rooms, unclear names, repeats. Hold back any message you would not want read aloud.
- Print the tags on card stock. They come out numbered in delivery order, so tag 1 goes in the first bag on the route.
- Print the class bag lists, one per bag. Pack each bag in tag order, tick names as you go and hand it to the runner.
- On the Money tab, enter what you counted. It shows who still owes and by how much.
No one left out
Some schools make sure every student gets something, bought or not. At Palms Middle School in Los Angeles, “Every student receives a lollipop, even if no one purchases a card for them.” At Townsend Harris High School the junior grade leaders prepared notes and candy for every student, whether or not someone bought them one. To do the same, paste your class lists under Set up and tick “Make sure every student gets a gram”. The kit finds who has nothing coming and adds a gram from your group with a kind message. Those tags are numbered and packed in with the rest, so nobody gets theirs from a separate pile, and the shopping list counts them.
Candy gram questions
How do you organize candy grams at school?
Sort every gram by the room it goes to, then by name, and give each room its own bag with a list. Home and School Organized lists “Not sorting by classroom” and making volunteers hand-write every tag among the mistakes to avoid. This kit prints the tags already in that order, numbered, plus the list for each bag.
What should a candy gram order form ask for?
Who it is for, their homeroom or teacher, who it is from (or a box to stay anonymous), the message, which gram and how many, and whether it is paid. Palms Middle School asks senders for the recipient’s name, their homeroom or homeroom teacher, and a message. Print the Order form sheet for blank slips.
How much do schools charge for candy grams?
Between 50 cents and $1 in the school sales we found. Palms Middle School charged $1, Benilde-St. Margaret’s sold candy cane grams at fifty cents or three for a dollar, Lakota Ridge Junior School at 75 cents or two for a dollar, and Coppell High School sold carnations at $1 each. Enter a deal under Set up and it is counted across everything one buyer orders.
What about students who don’t get a candy gram?
Some schools make sure everyone gets one. Palms Middle School gives every student a lollipop even if no one bought them a card. Turn on “Make sure every student gets a gram” after pasting class lists: those extra grams are numbered and sorted in with the rest, and added to the shopping list.
Should someone read the messages first?
Yes, before anything is printed. At Monta Vista High School the advisors and the Holiday Week committee looked through every candy cane gram to see if it was appropriate. Open an order and tick “Hold back” to keep it off the tags and bag lists until it is sorted out.
Can I paste orders from a Google Form?
Yes. Copy the rows from the response sheet with the header row and paste them under Paste orders. Columns for the name, homeroom, sender, message, gram and payment are found by their headings, a column per gram type counts that type, and emails, phone numbers and timestamps are left out and named.
Where are the orders saved?
Only in this browser on this device, saved as you type, and there are no share links with names in them. To pass the sale to a co-organizer, save a backup file and open it on their device.
Sources: Palms Middle School candy grams (archived copy), The Classic, Townsend Harris High School, Knight Errant, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Lakota Ridge Junior School, Coppell Student Media, El Estoque, Monta Vista High School and Home and School Organized.