We do one major fundraiser each year that directly effects the Teachers. All money raised in our fall wrapping paper sale, goes back to each individual teachers classroom to be used for fieldtrips and or classroom supplies. This is how we originally got our teachers and staff behind us. Bribery always works well. Each teachers earns a couple of hundred dollars and is happy.
From there we started expanding to activities that effected the children and families,an example is Thanksgiving Dinner Baskets. We ask the children to bring in Thanksgiving specific foods and the PTO puts together complete dinner baskets. The school office takes care of who recieves them, we simply tell the office that we will have 15 baskets available and they contact needy families in our school district and arrange the rest.
We run the book fairs, holiday shop, and a Spring fundraiser to help fund lots of other family involvement activities like a family dance, donuts with dads, muffins with moms, we sponsor the 8th grade graduation reception, and we allow the teachers to write mini grants asking for items like copy machines or printers. We run the ink cartridge recycle program, using this money to purchase new color cartridges for the teachers to use.
I could go on and on, but I am boring myself so I will just say good luck to you and don't give up. My dearest friendships have been made through our love and desire to enhance our childrens education through the Parent Club. Go get them
My oldest daughter has been in three different schools and I an honestly say I have seen a difference. When she was in Kindergarden I worked and went to the PTA meetings but really couldn't do as much as I wanted. When we moved, I (well,we) decided I would stay home with the boys and I asked about volunteering at her new school. Honestly, honestly the school secretary did not know what to do with me! She couldn't even tell me who to contact or ANYTHING about a PTO/PTA!!! Well, five years later her grades are amazing , she smiles when I see her in the hall, and my boys- yeah, they love it when they know I'm on the party planning committee or I cut out 30 apples for their teacher.
Why have a PTO? When we moved, joining the PTO was really the only way to met other parents (besides the OBGYN office) that already have something in common with me. If you really want to organize a PTO, keep it simple. Maybe start with a committee to organize a Toy Drive or even a lunch for the teachers during conferences. It can be done.
I recommend that you, and perhaps one or two others who are really interested in getting a PTO going at your school set up a meeting with the teachers and staff. Ask them what the school needs, what they would like to see in a PTO (remember they are the "T"), and what kind of parent involvement they expect. Then sit down with the list of wants and needs from the parents and look for similarities. I'll bet you find several! A PTO MUST be a collaboration between the parents and teachers. If you don't find common ground and common goals and work together to achieve them you are guaranteed failure. So go out and start asking questions, then find the common ground and common goals and move from there. It may be slow going, but every baby step is an improvement in the educational environment for your kids.
What I've been told about the past PTO's. Is the parents started it and no support from the school, teachers and staff. Everytime they wanted to do something they were told no. I wasn't here so I'm not sure. We are not having problems with the parents, its the teachers and staff. I feel that the parents should also have a say in what we are going to do for there kids just not the teachers. So any ideas? The teachers say one thing or some want this and others want something else. Just trying to give the teachers an idea what a PTO does for the school. Thanks
Our PTO is a great way for parents to find out what is going on in the school, commiserate with other parents, and find ways to be involved in your child's school and education. We "advertise" it that way and run it that way.
How have the failed organizations from the past approached the parents about getting involved? Were they strictly about making and spending money? Were they perceived as a clique? Find out why those predecessors failed and you will quickly figure out what the parents at your school DON'T want. Then work on finding out what they do want and need. Survey the staff too. Did they participate? Did they feel welcome? Was the organization seen as wanting to help the school and teachers?
Getting parents involved in PTO can be like getting customers into a business--you've got to offer them a good product and when they come in, you've got to make them happy, and send them away wanting more.
, she smiles when I see her in the hall, and my boys- yeah, they love it when they know I'm on the party planning committee or I cut out 30 apples for their teacher.
