Usually after we have our spring carnival in March we just sit back and roll through the end of the year with our fingers crossed that people will come forward to serve on next year's board! However, this year we are talking about doing a year end event in May to send everyone off to summer with fond memories of this school year. It's been a rough year with some changes in the district that will affect where many children attend next year so morale is a little low. I think we need that boost and the opportunity to say farewell to those who will not be here next year. We've even talked about finding a way to invite all the students who will be new here next year to attend so they can start making friends and becoming familiar with the building even sooner than next fall's Open House.
From the beginning of warm weather (and I live in NY so that varies greatly from year to year!!) to end of the year (mid June) seems to be a crazy time for most schools and ours is no exception.
We enjoy our Family Fun Night carnival at the beginning of April, then there is Teacher Appreciation week with lots of fun stuff. We also have our spring Pizza Hut Night. All these activities need to fit into whatever the school already has going on like..Field Day, Spring Concert/Art Show, Music Recitals, Standardized Testing, Spring Break..I'm sure I don't need to continue but I could!
Somehow it all works out and the students are happy. Isn't that how it should be?
My husband and father-in-law held a Bass Tourney in October one year. My husband offered to do it again, but that never went anywhere. I think only raised $150.00. He said a spring/summer would do better. It did not cost our PTO a cent. I thought it would be cute to have one in the spring and have a few little activities for the kids at the weigh in site (if one had permission) for the kids. But it would have to be on a Saturday and I doubt very many people would help. For the one tourney they had we wanted to get donated hotdogs and drinks to sell. I had 1 teacher offer to help me. So we just skipped it.
After last year I wondered if there would be a field day at our school. I think with testing being earlier this year things will not be as hectic. That has always been my experience anyhow.
Our school is also going to have a week of history of the school in community. There is alot of history there. My kids are beside themselves. There are going to be guest speakers and everything. Our school derived from an asphalt making factory which formed it's on little town. I think it would be neat if every school had an awareness of how their school started and about their community.
My kids have begged for a Farmer's Day (yep we are that rural). I never could fit that in when I was pres. My youngest always wanted a history day, he is statisfied with what they are doing now. I would also love to see a spin on Arts and Humanities especially involving state history. We have alot of famous people from KY. Rosie the Rivoter was from KY! We also have alot of authors and atheletes the kids could dress up as. No one would have to tell them it was also a learning experience. Ha Ha.
Scottmom, I'd love to hear more about that McTeacher night! I hope I can teach at a school with that program.
We are doing a "field day" at the end of May. Also a "fathers day" golf outing (miniature golf) since we are not in school around that time (rented a the local mini-golf course for half a day at $5 a family).
Both of these events are new for this year and we've never done them before.
It seems like all fun stuff is at the end of the year. We still have McTeacher Night, ChuckE Cheese Night, the carnival, 5th grade promotion, activity day, volunteer appreciation and teacher appreciation. It doesn't sound liek much, but we have our hands in all of those events as well as planning our events for next year and when there are only 2 moms doing the work, it can seem like a whole bunch.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
It's fast approaching. In the past we have had Fun Friday's to count down the last month. We also have Field Day a school play, things like that. What kinds of things do you do to "celebrate" the end of the school year?
