Idea Bag

  • Notes of Apology

  • Back-to-School Block Party

  • Ballots and Box Tops

    If your school serves as a polling place, why not use election days to boost your collection programs? In Framingham, Mass., the Hemenway Elementary PTO asked voters to drop off Box Tops for Education coupons while casting their ballots at the school. The PTO hopes to raise $500 on Super Tuesday alone.

  • Fundraising Reward Assemblies: Who Should Attend?

    In the March issue of PTO Today magazine we ask: "Fun-filled assemblies are common motivational tools for school fundraisers, but when they’re held to reward students, there is often disagreement about who gets to attend. Should reward assemblies be limited only to students who made sales, or should everyone be allowed to join the fun?

  • Mustache-a-Thon (Not Kidding)

    I don't get surprised too often, but this one is new to me.  And I love it! A bunch of dads (and even some moms!) got hairy when this Washingon state PTA held a mustache-a-thon.

  • File Exchange Version 2.0

    Thought I'd give a quick heads-up that my favorite new tool on the site -- our File Exchange -- has been redesigned and upgraded. Better than ever.

  • Elections and Transition - Useful Articles

    I just got the heads up that our editorial team posted 2 new articles...just in time for elections & transition season!

  • Earth Day PTA

    This California (where else?) school and its PTA put together a great, comprehensive all-school event around the environment and healthy habits and fun. Check out their Eco-Extravaganza here.

  • Celebrate National Teacher Day

    Today is National Teacher Day. Don't worry if the holiday snuck up on you. The NEA has some cool electronic greeting cards your kids can email to their teachers. As an added bonus, the teacher's name will be included on what's being called the nation's largest teacher thank-you card. (You can snail mail your own cards to be incorporated into the giant card, too.)

  • Love Your Veggies Grants

    Love to see good results from a program we played a (small) role in.  Here's a great result ($10,000 grant) from this past year's Love Your Veggies school grant program, sponsored by Hidden Valley.  PTO Today -- through our connection with so many schools -- helped manage the back-end of this program for Hidden Valley.

  • A Good Flocking in New Jersey

    Jersey columnist does a nice job capturing the spirit of a local PTO's "flocking" event (think: pink flamingos on a parent's lawn).

  • "Stock the School" (with books)

    Love the spirit and the results of this North Carolina PTO's efforts. Group put together a fun family event (during summer break, no less) where incoming students brought in books from home to donate to school classrooms.

  • Fundraisers Going Green

    Wall Street Journal today covers several new fundraising options with a green theme. PTO Today's expert take on fundraising trends included.

  • Biggest Embezzle Concludes

    Sentencing comes through for former PTA treasurer convicted of stealing $180,000 (yes -- nearly 200 grand!) from her group over 5 year period. Appreciate the fact that other officers and school parents prosecuted and advocated for harsh sentencing. However, looks like the sentence will be one year of home confinement.

  • Birthday Club and Your PTO

    (Note: cross-post from our schoolfamily.com blog). Really like this idea spearheaded by a couple of kids down in Florida.

  • 2 Hour Power Success in Rhody

    Always fun to read about one of our programs paying dividends for a group, so I was more than pleasantly surprised when i picked up a local paper this morning and ran across this piece from a paper near my hometown.

  • Indy PTO Takes on Flu Bug

    Like the community spirit of this local parent-serving effort. Local PTO partners with Visting Nurses Association to bring flu shots right to school setting.

  • School Health Fair in Ohio

    Looking for a programming/service idea? Like what these guys did with a community health fair. Looks like three different groups got involved, recruited some neat local speakers, and even roped in the Radio Disney crew for some fun. Cool.

  • School Make-Over in Arkansas

    Local PTO, principal and a local church group looking for a project team up in a big way to transform a school.

  • Principal Sleeps on Roof for PTO Fundraiser Bet

    Love the spirit behind these good-hearted wagers -- the zanier the better.  Last week it was the Principal in the bunny suit riding a Harley and today it's the Principal sleeping overnight on the school roof(in 30-degree weather!).
results