One thing to think about is what the purpose of the event is.
For example, we wanted ours so that the parents could have an opportunity to meet the teachers in a relaxing atmosphere. The drawback here is that the teachers usually don't start up until a couple of days before the first day of school. Also they are usually doing workshops, setting up their classrooms, etc. Working with the Principal to get the word out to the teachers, and maybe even invitations will go a long way! Just verify when the teachers would be available and try to use that when deciding on your date.
I think I have a handle on it. All of your ideas really helped. I still have to take the idea to the principal for approval but I wanted to have all my ducks in a row before I did. I wanted to make sure I could show her it won't cost anything, our PTO usually starts the year with only $1000. We're probably going to do the ice cream sandwiches this year and if I have a good year the toppings next year. A local grocery store is donating the ice cream, McDonald's the coolers, cups, and juice. All the PTO will have to do is napkins.
I just hope the principal and teachers are receptive, I think it could be a great way to start the school year!
I been chairperson for this event for the last two years and I will try to offer some advice. First, never charge this should be a FREE event for your school.Second check with your local ice cream shops i.e. Friendlys, Ritters or Dairy Queen. We have used both Friendlys and Ritters. Contact the manager and see if there willing to work with you. It really is just like free promotion for them. Friendlys provided all the cups, spoons and ice cream for 500 people and all we had to do was provide the toppings. For the hot fudge and caramel, we had parents bring in the crock pots and to keep it warm. If you have a Sam`s club or GFS they have it in bulk. Whatever you dont open, you can take back.
Also, we involve the TEACHERS, they scoop the ice cream and parents do the toppings. It really can be a very rewarding experience!
We hold ours the second week of school so kids and teachers have to time to adjust and get to know each other a little bit.
I find that makes for a better turn out. No one wants to go someplace where they don`t know any one!?
Hope this Helps, Summer
We've done ours (Hot dog BBQ instead of ice cream social) anywhere between the week before school to the 1st week of school) depending on what teachers/admin had planned.
<font size=""1""><font color="#"black"">Liberalism is not an affilation its a curable disease. </font></font><br /><br><font color="#"gray"">~Wisdom of Shawnshuefus</font><br /><br><font color="#"blue""><font size=""1"">The punishment which the wise suffer, who refuse to take part in government, is...
president jim has some great ideas... however.. before you decide on having it the day before school starts, I would check to see if that's what staff would want. I would be drawn and quartered if I scheduled an event the day before school started! teachers are in meetings ALL day.. and scrambling to get last minute set-up done...
We ran one last year and it was such a success we have made it an annual event. Here's some things to consider...
Usually the teachers don't come back until a week or so before the first day of school. I would recommend trying to hold it the day right before school, that way you can be sure the teachers will be there and able to attend. We held ours on the first day of school as it was a one-half day and the parents had to take off anyway.
We were going to go with scooped ice cream with all of the fixings, but we ended up just going with the hoodsie cups. It made sure that we had enough for everyone, there was barely a mess, and things were served much faster.
We hired the local Radio Disney to take care of all entertainment and prizes. For $1200 they took care of it all and every student received a prize. They even ran the DJ games which got the students and the new Principal involved.
This event just has to be free. Really, if you want to start your year off right you can not charge for this event. You'll get a higher turnout if it is free, and it will end up more than paying for itself.
Also one of the things that I did to promote involvemoet in the PTO is simply have a table where parents could write their contact info and I had printouts of various PTOtoday articles that focused on involvement. In other words it was very low key.
