We always do a Sally Foster Sale in the Fall. Everyone loves it and this year I am adding Magazines to the mix. That way if everyone is filled up on wrapping paper...they still will by something. We also offer the Entertianmnet Book.Our parents see this more as a service vs a fundraiser. They are going to buy a book somewhere so why not give the school back some credit. This year we are also adding a cookbook. In Sept. the kids have to bring in their favorite recipies. We are taking those and making a cook book. We will then charge ($20) per book. I think it will be a big hit. We are adding some hand drawn pictures from the kids.

I have been asked to help with the alumni and fundraiser committees at my son's school. The school usually does Box Tops, Campbell Soup Labels and Tyson A+. The parents don't look at these as fundraisers as they will either buy the product or won't. The school is pre-k 3 - 3rd grade but is adding 4th and 5th. This past year the children did drawings and then they were sold on picture frames, mugs, t-shirts, key chains,etc around the holiday for gifts. We just finished having a dinner and silent/live auction with everything being donated. Again this way the kids are not going to door to door selling items. There are a few smaller fundraisers like a Dinner with the students singing songs, doing puppet play around Veteran's Day. If you have a chic-fil A around, I know ours donations a portion of all proceeds during a certain time and on certain nights.

Bertha- we have a math night and reading night. PTO does not pay for these. I think the family resource center and maybe title I provides them. Not sure. We didn't have math night this year due to cut backs. There is no admission. I would love to do the family nights that are mentioned here; arts & crafts, reading(can't get enough, I say), fun & games, I hope we can incorporate some of them into our year. I, too, am curious to know how many charge admission for these events. It would be great to not have to.

There are many options other than selling things. It is an unwritten rule that we do not have our kids to sell things. We've made money keeping receipts and we've had a successful change drive ($1200) in addition to our regular fundraiser. Our major fundraiser is Fall Festival. In the past (when it was K-5) the King Queen Ceremony alone makes no less than $10K. We also have a supper with the Fall Festival which surprised me how much it made (it's been ham ever since Methusla started it). We also do Spirit Sales at the begining of the year and sell spirit items at the Basketball Tourneys. The last couple of years we have had a holiday shop.

Our computer lab recieves money from ink cartridges, library gets book fair money (2 of those per year, usually), PE dept has done Ropin' and Shootin' in the past (PE takes care of Field day at the end of the year). So that leaves us open on Academic and Attendence prizes (at least $5,000 to the best of my memory), at least one fun day per month, talent show, cookout. I could go on and on. We also do box tops and just add it to the general fund. (We won't talk about the outside water fountian that doesn't work). Since I have been around (2000) our PTO has never been in the red. (Even though the custodians have claimed that). We also pay the custodians for coming in after big events. Since I have been off the board they have purchased copiers, lamenators, and some other machine, I am not sure what it does.

Being in KY we also have SBDM money that is spent on field trips, DARE programs, and many other things alot of other PTOs are responsible for. In some cases the PTO will match SBDM money.

ptohyeah- do you charge an admission fee to your family events, and if so how much do you charge? How many family events do you do in a year?

Because we do 2 fundraisers a year, we don't charge admission to our family events. We hold at least one per month. Jan, Feb & Mar. we hold 2 per month.

Our main fundraiser is a Fall Festival which has made any where from $16,000 to $22,000 the last few years. There are other smaller things we do like Santa's Secret Shop, Spring Carnival, t-shirt sales, box tops, ink cartridges...In the 5 years I have been at this school our children have NEVER sold anything. Pretty sure that has been policy for many years. Our parents really appreciate that and are willing to come and support our events like they do. We are hoping to do more family involvement/fun nights next year.