We are a very small school, as well, and don't currently label our things. I think it is sort of an aesthetic issue for us. As a Montessori School, part of our beliefs is that the activities and environment our children learn in stay beautiful, and a label on all their "jobs" seems so - well - yucky.

I am the person in charge of automating and cataloging our library and materials, though, and when our software is in place will also log all classroom materials. As we grow, and have staff members leave, all their checked out materials will have to be returned. If not, I suppose we will charge them for them. I hate to do that, and hopefully it will not be an issue - it hasn't been thus far, but it can't hurt to have a system in place.

Thanks! I never thought of it that way. I will definitely bring this up at our next meeting.

I think your PTO should mark everything you provide, but not because of ownership or usage issues, but more for marketing reasons.

I think it's a great investment for PTOs get a very nice tag of some kind (designed sticker, brass plaque, who knows) and a marketing message. And then use that/those tags on everything you provide:

Provided with Pride
ABC PTO
Here for our Children

or

Gift of
ABC PTO
Your Fundraising $$ At Work

Or something like that. We hear so many complaints about "all the fundraising." This is a great way to emphasize (every day) what the fundraising is all about.

Tim

The gift tag says to the classroom, but we don't actually mark the item. We have a small school and a teacher hasn't left for a very long time so we haven't had to deal with that. That is probably a good idea though. Maybe we will start that. Somebody could probably make up labels that are marked A Gift From The PTO to the Porterfield Elementary Kdg. Room. That way the teachers can't claim them as theirs. Great Idea mykidsmom!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!! I may just have to borrow that idea!!!
I do have one question, did you label each item so that a teacher would know it was for the room/school and not to them personally? I've met too many that like to (somehow) think the 5 playgroud balls purchased for the students in her class is her's to take with her .

Anyway, WELL DONE!!!! [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Our school does something similar. Our PTO has a budget for Xmas gifts for the classroom. Each classroom makes a list of things they need or would like and the PTO purchases and wraps those gifts. Then at our Xmas Sing-A-Long Santa comes to deliver the gifts. He also passes out candy canes to all of the kids. We've been doing this since before my 6th grader was in the school and the kids still love it. We put a twist on it this year though. The teachers felt that we had enough games and things for the classrooms and suggested adopting some families and purchasing things for their Xmas. We had Santa bring gifts to the school still, but the kids wanted to donate the gifts to families in need. We ended up giving a Xmas tree to a family that had never had a tree before. It was a wonderful thing for our children to experience. I think this teaches our kids that they can make a difference too and be part of the community. It was a truly wonderful Xmas!