We've done a 'Cookies with Santa' night the last few years, and it has been very successful - with very little expense. We have Santa there for photos of course as well as have teachers read holiday stories to the kids in the library. We ask for donations of cookies from parents, and have hot chocolate as well. We've also timed it with a book fair, so parents can get some shopping done. We also have a gift wrap table to get those new gifts wrapped and ready that night. It really is a pretty easy event to put together, and the kids just love it, especially those in the younger grades.
It may be a little too late for this this year but maybe you could do it next year. Our school for as long as I can remember (even when I was a student) has done a Santa's Workshop. During the year we have a few parents who do shopping for gifts for the Santa's Workshop so that we can stock up when there are sales and such. (They get reimbursed of course) Then we get LOTS of volunteers to help out the day of and here is what we do.....we use the gym, set up all our gifts by price. All items are from $1-$5, we price the gifts as what we pay for them so we nevere purchase anything over $5. We set up lots of tables full of gift bags, gift wrap, tissue paper, tape and all the fun stuff. Each student that attends the school get's to do shopping for the members of their family on their list....we put it at one gift per person, we make sure that it is very clear NO PARENTS allowed in the shopping area, all gifts are wrapped for the students before they go home. While waiting to shop the children get to head to the cafeteria to make three different crafts that are FREE for them to take home. Santa makes a visit and for 50cents you can have your picture taken with Santa. We have a local family who owns a greenhouse come and sell seasonal plants as well. This year we are having a "parent station" we will have hot coffee and cookies for the parents to enjoy and a place for them to relax while thier children shop! Hope that helps!
Does anyone run a fun, relatively inexpensive holiday event for their elementary school? We have done the breakfast with santa for a few years and last year we had a holiday dance, but was looking for something different. Thanks!
