LOVE the Boo-Hoo Breakfast idea for kindergarten parents! It would be a lot of work for our school (four-track year-round), though. Plus we have morning and afternoon classes. If only we were a traditional calendar, full-day kindergarten school, I would absolutely pursue this idea!!!
Last year I did something like this. I gave info to people doing registration and to our one and only pre-school which includes children that will be attending both of our elementary schools.(I got an exact count for our future students.) I also invited them to attend our last meeting to kind of see how things went. That didn't work only a handful of our own members showed up.
If you do send out something make it original, something that reflects your pto. I also added the main functions of a pto. You would be surprised of the parents out there that has no idea of what a PTO is.
We include information about our PTO in the Kindergarten registration packets given out by the school. Our info. includes ways to get involved in the school and also info. about easy ways to financially support our school. (box tops/campbells labels, etc.) Since our kindergarten students start school in the fall a day after the other students they don't really get to participate in our first day celebration. Instead, we invite the kindergarten parents and students to our boo-hoo breakfast (bagels and drinks) the first morning of kindergarten. The invitations (an individual pocket pack box of tissues with a label stuck to it) are given out at the orientation given by the teacher.
I must agree. The first impression you give parents shouldn't be all about fundraising. Frankly, I find fundraising a necessary evil of the PTO experience. We don't send out anything via mail, but we have a pamphlet that provides alot of information about our PTO (including a little blurb about fundraising)that we distribute at the roundup in the spring and at registration. This year I also included an "invitation" at roundup for our spring carnival and our next meetings. Make sure to include officer names and phone numbers so parents can call for more info.
We put a small letter in the Kind packs that go out in March. It just lets them know that we do have a PTO when out meetings are and where. WE also encourage them to attend now if they can since we are beg to discuss next years plans.
I know a lot of groups send out a letter to incoming parents (don't have a sample, though).
Can I give you my thoughts on that kind of letter, though (OK -- I will):
I really recommend *not* including the fundraising stuff in that first touch (or even in the first couple of touches). First impressions are lasting impressions, they say, and you'll be much better served (even fundraising-wise, in the long-term) if your first impressions are of welcome and fun and involvement, rather than fundraising.
If only we were a traditional calendar, full-day kindergarten school, I would absolutely pursue this idea!!!