We have an ice cream social planned for the Thursday prior to the beginning of school (last year we had it after school started). We have a school family that has a Mister Softee franchise that will bring out ice cream trucks and provide the toppings and paper goods that we'll need. We have the teachers set up by grade so students & parents can locate and meet them. This year we will have 2 large blow-up bouncing houses for the kids to play on. As long as the weather cooperates, we will be outside near our playground. The PTF handed out coupons for free ice cream to every one that checked in with us. We used that as an opportunity to have them join PTF. Last year we had 400 families attend out of approximately 600 families school wide and about 200 of those joined PTF.

We have an ice cream social. The local ice cream parlor provides the ice cream and toppings for the sundaes and bring in two freezers. The parents volunteer and we serve ice cream sundae. The kids love it!!! You could just buy the tubs yourself too at Sams Club, Costco, or BJ's and just do the ice cream that way too.
Its 2.00 p/p

Cindy

Just had Back to school BBQ! Over 60% in attendance teachers, parents, students alike! Student Council Bought Dogs and burgers, asked parents to cover the rest...chips, buns, soda, ice. We got a 3in1 Inflatable(189.00), I have a DJ company so I had one of my girls DJ, We had received stuff from the WWE, Disney, Discovery Cruises, and Lion Country Safari and did an "interest" raffle. We also pushed for PTO Dues($25.00) by raffling a round trip cruise to the Bahamas, from parents paying their dues on that day. Started at 4:15 ended a little before 6:00(Rain!) Overall...clearly a success! We also purchased class Packs from EPI and parents were able to purchase and recive the same day!.

We had our first BTS BBQ/Picnic last year. Our PTA bought the hot dogs, buns and condiments, but we did get a $40 credit at the grocery store to help defray cost. One of our member's husbands has a portable grill, so that was used. Each teacher brought a bag of chips and the school provided plates, napkins, and cookies. Our local McDonalds provided two igloos with their orange drink and powerade. They also gave us cups. Attendance was ok, but we are hoping for many more this year. We are still in the discussion stages but we do know that we will be having an infatable slide and the moonwalk this year. Our PTA gets the use of them as an early sign up incentive for our spring mag. sale. I love the idea of music and relay races. I am also pitching the door prize idea. We don't have bussing, so parking spaces are at a premium. We could designate a prime spot as the prize. And it could be on a weekly basis, so we would actually have 36 or so prizes! We could also give away that parking spot for all night time events throughout the school year.Another prize might be front row seats at our winter and spring concerts.
Keep the great ideas coming folks! Thanks for the input.

For the past few years we have hosted a Back To School BBQ on the first Friday night of the school year. We use a Western Theme (it seemed to go twith teh whole BBQ idea) and have the principals and superintendent do the BBQing. We give all the teachers and staff members two free dinner tickets, and charge about $3.00 for everyone else. It is a lot of fun, the students get to introduce their parents to the teachers and they get to see the principal working hard for them in a fun setting. Our Parent Club sets up an informational table, we sell school shirts and invite everyone to join in a volunteer. We end up making about $150.00, not a lot, but at least we cover our costs.

Our school hosts a "block Party" in the quad section of our school, it is right near the playground. It is a free family oriented event , hotdogs, chips and a drink is provided, there are booths set up on different things at the school, each child gets a free book and they get this really good kid oriented DJ that will do dance contests,chicken dance, hokey pokey, etc. the kids love getting their parents out to dance, families bring lawn chairs and blankets. It is alot of fun, last year it rained and they had it inside which kinda stunk but the turnout was still good. very family orineted and the whole staff comes as well...alot of them do the cooking and serving! This is one event all year that the Pto does nothing besides have a info booth...