Thank you all for your responses. As a Special Ed teacher, I have been fortunate to have active parents. I do send home weekly newsletters to keep my families abreast of the school activities. I have not only give out student awards but I have parent awards and at the end of the year, I purchase a plaque for them for all the support they have given me during the course of the year. I thought about a response that was given in this thread about "cliques." That statement was true. I also thought that I am in a school that the principal isn't too supportive and therefore other people see that. But I want parents to know that they are vital in our schools and we need them (u know what I mean) [img]smile.gif[/img]
Again, I thank oyu for all the suggestions. I am just one voice in my school in terms of this situation. It takes a village! Thank you all again!
Oh Gosh! I wasn't offended! I know it must be frustrating for you, as it is for all parent groups. I hope you weren't offended by my answer either...lol... I mean well, just sometimes it comes off kind of harsh... I'm a pussycat, really (well, I wouldn't go that far, but a 'cat' of sorts nonetheless...lol...).
I wanted to add my two cents to what CBrooks said. Our current group tried to save money on administrative costs by not sending home as many flyers (no Monthly Minutes either :eek: ). Thing is, that most people felt left out in the cold. You have to operate the group as a business because that is what it is. With any business, you have costs. The cost of doing business can be done reasonably in many areas, but I don't think that that means not sending home flyers frequently. We use a bright pink paper for all PTO related items. It is a real attention getter and everyone knows that it is from the parent group. That helps a lot. On average, during my time as pres (and the upcoming school year in which I will probably be pres), I'd say I send out about a notice a week or so. That isn't to say that I use full sheets of paper, sometimes half will do. I also try to make sure to use front and back, even if I have to use a bigger font.
I know that the year I was prez, I didn't have too much trouble getting people to attend meetings. I sent home a talent survey sheet and bribed the kids to bring them back filled out. I kept everyone informed, did a lot of begging and cajoling, and OMG!!! started calling people at home. I started babysitting and snacks at our meetings. I started calling people to get them to help out because it is harder to say no to a person than it is to throw away a flyer...lol...
Do you have free stuff at your meetings? That can help, door prizes and refreshments. We also offer a reward for those classrooms with the most members attending. The PTO provides a supply basket ($15-$20)for the primary class and one for the intermediate class. The also get a banner to hang outside their door.
Information is a big factor, especially around here. Several of our parents are not jump in and do it parents they feel more comfortable being asked, but if they do not know what is going on they do not know what to ask if they are not shy. You could send a newsletter home focusing on the many different ways that families can help out at school and at home. If you have a volunteer cooridinator or parent liason perhaps she/he could speak at a meeting. A survey may help you with some of your questions also, perhaps your school is missing a little connector that you need for some parents that a survey would shed some light on. Of course if they don't care enough to read what is sent home that could be a problem. I also feel that parental involvement is extremely valuable in a child's education so if you can get just a few people to respond that would help those children too.
While creating a volunteer program a few years ago I was very surprised to find out that the teachers are just as scared of parents as the parents are teachers. Most of us know each other because we are a small rural county, but that was still a problem. I am still working on ideas filling in that gap between the teachers and parents.
Towanda...what grades does your school encompass?
If kindegrarten is part of your school you can really try to reach out to those new parents coming in. Holding a Boo Hoo Breakfast on the first day of school could really help you get a platform for that. Also, maybe you could send home a survey to the parents and try to get to the root of why they do not attend. Maybe if your meeting time was changed you could pull in more people.
Thank you both for your responses. It's just so hard to get our parents involved within our school. Michelle, thank you for your comments and help. Metzy Mom, we have tried the suggestions you have mentioned, I'm just baffled as to why our parents don't attend school functions and what else can we do to increase attendance. Metzy mom, we need more parents as yourself. I'm sorry my commetns offended you or anyone else, but it actually wasn't meant to offend, it was basically a observation that I have seen. The only time a good number of our parents come to our school is when they are irate and the child has been disciplined in some way (suspended, time-out, not allowed to go for recess, etc).
Again, thank you both for the comments and I will continue to research to try strageties to make something happen. We do express to our parents they make up our school. They are very important to us as well as their children.
