The book fairs at our schools are held to benefit the libraries and are scheduled to coincide with the week of conferences.
This year we tried things a bit differently. In years past, the library aide has coordinated the bookfairs but our elementary LA moved on to a different position a few weeks after school started. I knew that whoever took her position might need some help, so I offered the Librarian my assisitance in getting volunteers in. Somehow that got translated into my coordinating the bookfair..lol. We started the Three for Me program this year and I had 50 parents on my list who checked that they would be interested in helping.
When the Librarian handed me a kit from Scholastic, I was floored with what they offer to help you succeed. The LA has NO time to do anything but make some phone calls to procur volunteers because she is also on reccess duty and there was SO much more that could be done. So I rolled up my sleeves and got busy (busier [img]smile.gif[/img] )
When all was said and done, our book fair took in over $3500! That's a full $800 than the previous Fall Book Fair and the most ever sold! ((patting myself on the back..lol))
The Librarian takes a good mix between books, items from their catalog and cash. She earned enough cash to get a scanner for the library this year and now I am SO geeked about our Spring Book Fair. I want to do a press release and also hang posters at our Senior Center, public library, contact home schoolers to invite them in, etc. I've made a goal of $2500 for the spring, last year was $1800 and for next fall, I've got my sights set on $5000!

We have our book fairs during parent/teacher conferences (which were during the last 2 weeks). We also have a fall fair and we have a "mini" book fair at that too. Finally our elementary school has a pizza/movie night during the late winter/spring and we have books set up then. hope this helps.

Mom2m&a,
I guess our criteria are different. For our organization, increasing parent involvement is the top priority. Look at Shawn's statistics above, they all indicate that having parents involved is the key to success. For us, money is a secondary concern.
Kelley
Madison PTO
Mount Vernon, WA

We used to do two book fairs a year - one before Christmas and one in the spring (around Easter). After being book fair chair for the first time and realizing how hard it is to get volunteers at Christmas time, we decided to move it the spring and only have one book fair per year. We found out we made almost exactly the same amount of money.

The theory of having the book fair at Christmas is that people will buy gifts for their kids and teachers. But we found they spent the same amount of money even if we didn't have it around the holidays.

I think the thing that drives sales is more what events you have to get people into the school (family night, spaghetti supper, etc.) than what time of year you have it.

To the poster who said that the original poster's PTO must be in trouble because she has a hard time getting volunteers a month after the fall festival, our PTO is in exactly the same boat. We have a terrible time getting volunteers at ANY event, but we consider ourselves extremely successful because we have found ways to raise money and provide services to our kids without a huge number of volunteers. A large number of volunteers doesn't always equal success. Wish we had more, though.
We have tried everything, but we live in a high-cost area with most families with two working parents. We can't even get room parents!

Tim, Too bad I'm past "I should be on the payroll'..... What the Heck.. Tim, Can I HAVE A RAISE (hehe)

Don't waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

More Qoutes and data- some I dont have an author for

We have to go beyond kind of the old notion of simply parent involvement where the parents just show up to support something that the school's doing, and I think that to the degree that the school really connects with the parents and the families as a meaningful way as a resource for them as well as a place that they can provide a volunteer or other kinds of services, and those programs can make a difference, but if we just stick with the old model of having parents come in to host a bake sale or supervise after-school activities, I don't think that's really going to get us much farther ahead."

or
Comer and Haynes (1992) describe five guiding principles for involving parents in schools:
1. A no-fault approach, focusing not on who is to blame but on what can be done.
2. Coordination and cooperation among all adults concerned with the child's best educational interests.
3. Decision by consensus whenever possible.
4. Regular meetings representing the entire school community.
5. Active involvement of parents.

or show Benefits
Student Benefits: "The studies have documented these benefits for students
• Higher grades and test scores.
• Better attendance and more homework done.
• Fewer placements in special education.
• More positive attitudes and behavior.
• Higher graduation rates.
• Greater enrollment in postsecondary education."

School Benefits: "Schools and communities also profit. Schools that work well with families have:
• Improved teacher morale.
• Higher ratings of teachers by parents.
• More support from families.
• Higher student achievement.
• Better reputations in the community."

Parent Benefits: "Parents develop more confidence in the school. The teachers they work with have higher opinions of them as parents and higher expectations of their children, too. As a result, parents develop more confidence not only about helping their children learn at home, but about themselves as parents. Furthermore, when parents become involved in their children's education, they often enroll in continuing education to advance their own schooling."

or this
The 1993 Families and Work Institute report, The National Study of the Changing Workforce, examined how involved today's working families are in their children's learning:
• Only 52 percent of employed parents of children ages 5 to 18 regularly attend school activities and events;
• Only 36 percent of employed parents help their children with homework daily;
• Only 31 percent of employed parents meet with their child's teacher to discuss school progress on a frequent basis.

Thirty years of research clearly show the link between educational achievement and parental and community involvement, regardless of socio-economic levels. In one study of reading comprehension levels in 4th grade classrooms, students with highly involved parents scored 44 points ahead of their peers whose parental involvement was low?even after adjustments were made for outside attributes, such as communities, classes and principals (Binkley 1996).
Yet many families are not fully involved in their children's education. This country cannot afford the educational failure faced by so many children. All children need support at home, in the community, and through their parents' employers if they are to be successful in school and beyond.


[ 11-18-2005, 04:23 PM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

Excellent, Shawn! If I was allowed to do a newsletter, I would put that in. I think it was you who also posted an inspirational poem on another thread? I am really trying to take that to heart because right now I am so tired of fighting. Yes, Kelley, we do have issues--major ones, and I'm not offended that you pointed that out. We could never do all of the things you do at your school. There are so many great ideas on this board, I had such high hopes for this year, and now I feel like if I could even get one of these ideas into action (like having a budget) I would be happy.