Hello all! We had our 1st day of school today and I really believe that it was a success. Just in the last 24 hours I have made contact with several "new" families, as well as returning ones. This is what we've done...
Yesterday, when our kinder teachers had their "tea" for their new students we were there to help parents locate their child's teacher on the list and direct them to their classrooms.
Then, when they posted the class lists for the rest of the grades we were there providing FREE water and lemonade. It is VERY hot here, so that was really appreciated! We also had a few maps with the teachers listed on them and were able to direct students and parents to the appropriate classrooms. One thing that I did to get some parents and students to mingle was to have a child that was in the same classroom (and had already visited it) show a fellow classmate where the class was. Right off the bat, parents had something in common... the same teacher. Then today, the first day (which is ALWAYS hectic), some parents already knew other parents in their child's class, which eased the tension a bit.
Today about a 1/2 an hour after school started, our principal made an announcement to parents to join us in the library for coffee. We had a pretty good turn out and I was able to make personal contact with a few moms.
Now it's Back To School Night this Thursday the 28th, an Ice Cream Social next Thursday the 4th and the kick off of our Fall Fundraiser on the 15th. Wish me luck!!
I just started a Welcome Committee last night to welcome new parents/families to our school. The intent is to educate them with how things are set up, where the bathrooms are, who to go to with a certain question, etc. I already have two parents volunteer and one of them agreed to chair! So, what I really need are ideas on things this committee can do to "welcome" new members. I liked the idea of the baskets. Please help!
I will talk to anyone who will listen. It is a gift and a curse. I thought most women were like that. I am always talking to other women when I take my boys to the lake or wherever. At school I try to get to know people and find out a little about them. That way if I think they have something in common with another parent I can introduce them. I have been known on more than one occasion to go up to a perfect stranger and start asking a million questions.
I was told one time that people at my child's school was rude and often excluded "outsiders." I try to be more aware of those sitiuations.
You can't change the nature of women. We always gravitate towards the people we know and most of us do not seek out uncomforable situations.
Initiating conversation with total strangers is not something most women would even consider trying, let alone be good at.
The only way to get to know people, to make friends who YOU can chat with in the parking lot is to be out there, doing what you can to get involved.
The best way to feel alienated is to do nothing.
For people that have about the same situation as ptp_pres. You could have a mini meeting in the parking lot to introduce yourself (parent group leader) and have the others to introduce themselves. For the most part I live in a community where everyone knows everyone. We are small, but now that my oldest child is going to a school where another school will merge with his, I am rather nervous. I am afraid that the two schools' families will not want to mingle much. So keep your fingers crossed.
