A resource for PTA and parent involvement project ideas
Do you hold Family Fun events?
Last year we tried to host family fun events.
We did our version of American Idol, we called it West Carroll Idol. This was a crowd pleaser.
We charged the contestant 3.00 entry fee, the proceeds rasied went to the music boosters. We charged the parents a non perishable food item, to donate to our local food pantry. Those parents who forgot, were still allowed in. :)
The children choose from appropriate songs, and had 2 minutes to sing (kareoke) we had 3 judges (a principle from all 3 schools) the winner of the contest sang the National Anthem at the homecoming football game. All contestants rode on the WC Idol float in the homecoming parade.
We are doing this again this September due to the high request volume.
We are consdering our version of are you smarter than a 5th grader, all proceeds would go to the 5th grade class.
Any other family fun events suggestions?
We did our version of American Idol, we called it West Carroll Idol. This was a crowd pleaser.
We charged the contestant 3.00 entry fee, the proceeds rasied went to the music boosters. We charged the parents a non perishable food item, to donate to our local food pantry. Those parents who forgot, were still allowed in. :)
The children choose from appropriate songs, and had 2 minutes to sing (kareoke) we had 3 judges (a principle from all 3 schools) the winner of the contest sang the National Anthem at the homecoming football game. All contestants rode on the WC Idol float in the homecoming parade.
We are doing this again this September due to the high request volume.
We are consdering our version of are you smarter than a 5th grader, all proceeds would go to the 5th grade class.
Any other family fun events suggestions?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kecia Burkart on -
Here is a photo of dance party - Arty is our school mascot dancing with the children
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arty dance 2.jpg, 5 KB
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Permalink Reply by Michelle on -
What a great idea. We may be able to do something like this in our school.
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Permalink Reply by Sheila Davis on -
Kecia,
I love the mascot idea.... I just posted to Carissa how our spring dance had allot to offer, but we had very low turn out :( Maybe instilling a mascot would be the key to success. We have a writing with Rocky (raccoon) literacy program, I wonder if we had Rocky make an appearance if this would get more parents and children to attend?
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Permalink Reply by Lee Friedman on -
This is what I am hoping to do in our school so we can "give back" to the kids and families. Any specific pointers you can offer? Any problems that came up? Also, how many children do you have in your school? How many came with families? My cafeteria can only hold 240 people .... there are more than 900 kids in my school.
So we are thinking of moving the location of the dance/dances.
I would really appreciate any advice and suggestions Kecia!!
Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Carissa Dollar on -
We have a "Last Blast" dance at the end of the school year. This is usually paired with our volunteer appreciation.
Our enrollment was around 460 last year. For all of the events we've done, I'd say 200 is usually our highest attendance.
We hold a meal in our cafeteria and then the dance is in our large group instruction room. (We have done the dance in the gym before too, but I think it has been a little more "controlled" since we moved it to LGI a couple of years ago.) Could you use the gym or another room? Or a courtyard if it's nice weather?
Our Dads' Club president always DJs for the dance. He usually asks that we announce that he will not take requests. Otherwise he just gets bombarded by kids the whole night.
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Permalink Reply by Amanda Taylor on
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we have a father and daughter dance and mother/son dance every year.. we keep the cost low, 2-3 dollars per person. we take pictures and then disperse them the following week. we usually have a DJ, however, if you have a decent sound system that would work well too.. We usually serve just cookies and water or clear punch... Our whole school looks forward to these dances every year. It has become a tradition.
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Permalink Reply by Carissa Dollar on
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We also do a welcome breakfast for our new KG families. This is another thing that we started just last year. Tomorrow is the big day for this year. (We are a year round school so tomorrow is our first day.) This breakfast helps to welcome our new KG families into the school and will hopefully also help the parents and kids separate on the first day.
This year's breakfast is based around the Jack & the Beanstalk parable that I've attached. We have a big beanstalk that we built out of old pool noodles. Each child will get to write a goal for the year (with a parent's help) and attach it to the beanstalk. The students will also each get a little gauze bag (like wedding favors come in) that has been filled with "magic beans" (jelly beans).
Students and parents will all be together in our large group instruction room to meet the teacher and do first day paperwork. There will be baskets of books and things available for the new students to look at while parents fill out forms. The teachers will talk and then take the kids off to the classroom. The parents will stay with PTA volunteers to have breakfast and make connections with each other and have an opportunity to ask "been there/done that" parents questions. - Attachments:
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BEANSTALK.doc, 14 KB
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Permalink Reply by Renae Tieman on -
We hold 2 "Movie Nights" during the year. At each movie night, there are 2 movies shown: Usually a PG movie and a G movie. It's Free admission, and Free Popcorn. As a "fundraiser" we sell PapaJohns pizza and bottled water.
In conjunction with our school nurses, we hold a "Mother/Daughter, Father/Son" Education night for the 5th graders. The PTA provides funds for that for refreshments and learning material. (It's on of those "Growing up and developing" type education events).
We also hold a "Holiday Shop" which is NOT designed as a fundraiser. We offer "Fun Dollars" to our "underpriveleged" students (as identified by teachers, principal, and guidance counsellor) so that they can shop as well. The kids LOVE shopping for their parents and siblings without them knowing!!!!
We also host a Talent Show where the kids get to show off their talents. There are 2 or 3 rehearsals and then the "event" which is free for the parents, family, and friends to come to.
Another NEW thing that we started last year was a "Beautification Day" to "green up" the outdoors of our elementary school. We are working to be a "green School" and this was one of the things we did. Volunteers helped plant native plants, spread mulch, pull weeds, trim bushes, and clean up litter. While it's not exactly "Fun" the families that DID come really enjoyed it and it made the school look SOOO Much better. The kids who came DEFINATELY felt a new sense of pride when walking into the school!
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Permalink Reply by Sheila Davis on
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What do you offer in your holiday shop? Are these items purchase by the PTA/PTO, or a company who supplies items??
I love the movie night idea...
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Permalink Reply by Renae Tieman on
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We use a company called FUN Services and they do the sale on "consignment", so whatever we do not sell, we send back. On top of that we have found it VERY beneficial to go out to the local Dollar Stores (I also pick up clearance stuff year round) and purchase items so that costs can be kept low. We also ask for donated items and price them inexpensively. We HAVE to price at a slight profit margin so that we make enough to cover our "Fun Bucks". Google "holiday Shop" and you'll find a whole bunch of companies. Search around for the best products/for the least price....and CALL. A lot of times I have been able to get an awesome deal (additional 6% off sometimes) If we plan ahead of time!
As far as the movie night goes, since you ARE playing the movie in public, MAKE SURE YOU PURCHASE "VIEWING RIGHTS" FROM THE COMPANY. Last year there was a "National Movie Night" campaign through Kung Fu Panda and we actually got that one for free (w/o having to purchase the movie rights-and still being LEGAL!).
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Permalink Reply by Sheila Davis on
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Renae,
What great advice!! Thank you.. I would have never given the veiwing rights a thought.. I am 98% sure no one in our group would have known of this little technicality either...
I'll have to search for FUN services and check into that. What we have done the last two years is a make and take craft night. Kids come in and make gifts for their parents, grandparents and so on. We charge $1.00 per craft, have plain brown lunch bags they can decorate as "gift wrap" Many items we do come from oriental trading company. The kids have fun, but it's not really a "surprise" for parents as many parents stay and help them assemble and make the crafts.
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Permalink Reply by Carissa Dollar on
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Last year our 5th graders had hot chocolate and coffee in the cafeteria so parents could socialize or read while the kids were making their crafts. You could then maybe use Honor Society kids from your high school to help the kids make their crafts. (They usually need volunteer hours.) Or have some parents who volunteer to help with the craft stations. (For us it is usually 5th grade parents who are trying to earn money for the DC field trip.)
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