I found this old topic when I was searching for something else!! Anyway, we went to our first kindergarten registration last school year. I think that it went well, we talked to the parents individually, answered any questions, got some new members, and sold 16 School Tool boxes!! We didn't have anything that elobrate, we just had a table with some pictures, a letter from the president/membership form, and order forms for the school tool boxes. I'm looking forward to this year's registration, especially since I will have my daughter to sign up!! [img]smile.gif[/img]
Life is crazy as it is, that's why I don't watch soap operas!! <img src=images/smilies/smile.gif>
We just had our K registration and the PTA was there for the first time. We had a table set up with handouts about the sports available, a list of all the things PTA is involved in, an envelope and info to start saving labels and boxtops, info on scrip,a bio and picture of each K teacher and a form to mail back if they wanted more info. Of course we had coffee,punch, and mini-muffins too. The response was great. We even sold 6 cookbooks and 6 discount cards!
Beside the normal handouts to these all to ready help parents we offer something the first day of school. We have a MUG_N_MUFFIN
away from the class rooms,(our library has a great patio) and offer this for all parents. it really helps the teachers get the parents out of the rooms---they tell them "the pto has a place for you to go while the kids and i get to know each other" ect..... we also have tons of information for them on our purpose and meetings and what we are planning for the year (that we know about) and SIGN UP SHEETS!!!!! we get tons of volunteers on this one day that we use all year long and mom and dad get to stay close to those precious little ones with out wigging out the teacher. WE ALL WIN WITH THIS ONE!!
Do you have any fun spring event planned like a family night or a carnival? If so, that's a great way to invite next year's kindergartner's to visit and look around their new school (and recruit parents). Could you have a special activity or information table for them? You can send flyers home for families with younger children, post notices in the community, send flyers to areas daycare facilities and mothers-day-out program. If not part of a larger event, you might even want to plan a small event just for this group.
There are some other ideas if you search the postings on this forum.
As for Spring election of officers, we don't try to fill every spot, but mostly focus on the key elected officers. Also we often have co-chairs for many committees. We need to get some locked in, like fundraising, but others can wait until fall. They can be appointed (according to our by-laws) so we usually have some nice slots to fill in the fall with new recruits.
Why don't you have a meeting of the room parents from the school and discuss at that meeting the need for them (or others they might know)to consider becoming active with the PTO the next year. Doing it this year, early in spring gives prospective folks the chance to talk with current board members and also sit side-by-side with the existing committee chairpersons so that they can access their brain of knowledge. Next year, with so many folks moving on to the middle school, they will not be as readily available for consultation.
With regards to the incoming parents--check your bylaws. Individuals may have to have attended the school for a year or more before they can be considered for a position on the PTO. This doesn't however preclude them from considering becoming a committee member or involved in other volunteer ways.
Perhaps a flyer can be included in the kindergarten registration materials sent out which outlines different ways parents can be involved at the school--a listing of volunteer opportunities and i.e. a calendar of events for the rest of the year--invite them to the school fair for example.
