We share our PTO newsletter with the school, so parents get PTO information as well as school articles. We include all fundraising updates (income, thank you's), upcoming events, volunteer needs, organization meeting agenda, and any other major PTO information, i.e., matching grant achievements. We also have the usual on-going fundraiser reminders. This is also where the PTO Executive Board communicates to the parents re budget, upcoming positions, etc.
The school usually gives a Grade Level update as to what each is working on. Sometimes they include copies of students' work.
I'd be happy to fax you a copy of ours - it's usually four pages (we fold it 11 x 14 together).
I was the writer of our newsletter for 3 years and along with a computer smart mother, we did the newsletter. Our newsletter came out the first Thursday of the month. (Thursday is the day the school mailings come home) We included the schedule of sporting events to be held that month and included a small write up on the teams. Sometimes it was difficult to be positive when the teams were not very good but we always found something good to say. We also did a teacher bio. that was real interesting. We made up a form that asked what they collected, their schooling, some words of advice, what people would be surprized to find out about them, family etc. We had a good news-good words column were people could send a message to others such as "Great report card Danny! We're proud of you" and "Danny Smith has a new baby brother!". We listed coming events. We even had a page for the students to send in drawings, poems, jokes, and movie reviews. I was very proud of it then someone else took over and it is not as good. Oh well, that happens sometimes.
Frequency of publication will be an important part of determining content. I know of schools that publish twice a quarter and they have minimal detail about upcoming events; the details come home in individual event flyers. We publish every other week, and put most event details in the newsletter.
The district has a parent resource center that provides us a with a steady stream of seminar announcements and such. We also have a letter from the principal in ours.
We use Microsoft Publisher and are fairly pleased with it.
Hi! I also am in charge of our newsletter. The forum I use is Microsoft Works. I use the newsletter with 3 columns. I usually put in current activities such as spirit day and fairs or musicals. I also have a "Dates to remember" column which I put all the half days and PTO happenings. We also put the totals to date of boxtops and Campbell labels. We also take the time to thank people and tell them about upcoming events and ask for volunteers. It really isn't that hard! I can e-mail you one of ours and basically you just have to change the title and of course fit the events to your schedule and liking.!! Good Luck! :cool:
hi, we put in our reminders about saving boxtops for education, using your target card, kmart cards, giant and safeway cards. Market day reminders, upcoming events, thank you's to everyone who has helped out at various events, (from being at the events to donations etc) Pretty much it's a giant reminder letter. I can email you our's if you'd like. maggie
I am now blessed with being in charge of a Newsletter for our PTO and wondered what kind of information others have found useful and interesting to put it theirs, besides the obvious calendar of events and minutes from meetings.
Do other recognize outstanding teachers, staff, and students?
