I have just finished being president of a middle school for three out of the last four years. What I have experienced is that not only do many parents feel they have put in enough time volunteering (you see them taper off starting in 3rd & 4th grade)it is also the time that those who put off working go back into the work force as their student is better able to fend for themselves. The number of parents available during the day drops drastically! Unfortunately it is sometimes the attitude of teachers and staff who also want us parents to let the students cut those apron strings and have them become more responsible. There is little volunteer opportunities at the middle school level. There is very seldom "room parents" and day room parties. Kids also become very busy with sports and such so their evenings are so overwhelming that events at night are hard to pull off. We try to find assmeblies or programs to bring in but so few cater to middle schoolers. The curriculum at this level also increases and there is little time to disrupt classes for day time things. At the same time these kids nation wide are so neglected and misunderstood. These three years are the toughest for them and could be the most fun. Our enrollment is 420 with 190 members. Out of those students only 25 - 35 families support fundraisers. It is such a tough nut that we have focused on student recognition and appreciation. We throw 3 dances a year for them and make them big. Over 70% of the students attend and have a great time. They so look forward to them and we also get the most parent volunteers for them. 15 - 20 at each dance. I would also appreciate any good ideas for this level.
GREAT POST!! I'm PTO president for the elementary school and my oldest will be going to the middle school this fall...I'm told that they have a PTO basically in name only to keep our accredidation from the state...I too am very curious to see some middle school posts on this one. I'm hoping along with the two other pto presidents from the other elementary schools in the area that we can revive the middle school. I truly believe that our kids need us the most in middle school...more so than in elementary. Some parents are in the mind frame these kids are kinda grownup and these next few years are when they start to change sometimes for the worse. I have seen many active pto'ers in elementary who totally lose interest when their kids move up and it is quite sad... Looking forward to reading more posts:)
I'm a new member to the PTO this coming year and I've never experienced the "Middle School" mind-set of volunteering and fundraising and getting parents involved. My only experience is with elementary kids and parents and I've heard it's very different in the Middle School arena. Help!
