We also had a PTA president who one year, did a video about what the PTA does, visuals on what we have accomplished or were working on, and the teachers showed the video during the orientation evening. She won an award for the video and it worked really well.

Our District hosts Kinderfairs that welcome K parents and our PTA is on hand to talk to them and give them all the membership envelopes and the volunteer sign up sheets. We are also set up at a table on registration day with same materials and on the first day of K, we have done polaroids of their first day of school and have cookies, balloons and tissues at a table with the membership items included. We also hold a seperate contest just for the K parents to join (win dinner for two, night out, anything we can get donated)
and if they join by a certain date, they are entered into the drawing.

I agree with the above.

Here's some more:

*Does your school have a "kindergarden orientation" where the children come to visit the school? If so, this would be a great time for a PTO rep to be there, introduce themselves and hand out a volunteer sign-up flyer. I think letting them know what the PTO sponsors, what volunteer opportunities are available, and how much they can contribute (time and assistance) before their children even attend makes them more apt to help out.

*We hold a "new family welcome" at the beginning of the school year, usually a 1/2 hour before the first general PTO meeting. The PTO board introduces itself and talks about the wonderful opportunties and benefits of having parents involved in their children's education.

My two sons have just finished kindergarten (two years of the same teacher was so great!)and the one thing that I can recommend is getting an informational flyer in the welcome packets or 10 minutes during the teacher's welcome meeting. Offering an e-mail address for them to respond to and reminding them of meetings is important also. You will be hit with, "Nights are so hard for me." You- "UGH, me too! Can I e-mail you upcoming events and volunteer opprutunites as they come?" Sometimes your best bet is to let them start just by helping the teacher in little ways that she needs them, then go from there.

Most important, you need to start with talking with the teachers to let them know what you would like to do and how they can help you...and in the long run you can help them .

Good luck!

Anyone have any good ideas regarding getting parents of kindergarteners to join PTO? We had poor enrollment last year due to little work on membership. I will be taking Pres. spot in next school year . I am looking for ways to interest these new school parents in getting involved. Ideas anyone has successfully used or thought of trying would be appreciated.