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School Years Eve Celebration

Hi, Is anyone doing the School Years Eve Celebration? I am trying to put together a Back To School Celebration, along with my other officers. I would like to incorporate this idea into the celebration. Any ideas on either idea?

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Permalink Reply by PTA Administrator on July 16, 2009 at 1:20pm: You have probably spotted this already, but the School Years Eve website does have a "Party Planner" section with some useful tips.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jessica Pagnotti on July 17, 2009 at 8:56am: Yes I have, I am incorporating some of the ideas into the event. We are going to have a "School Years Eve" table..Thank You; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sheila Davis on July 18, 2009 at 8:04am: Jessica,
This sounds like a fun way to kick off the school year! We just hosted a PTO Potluck Meet and Greet July 15th. This was for the teachers, staff and parents to meet the 09/10 PTO officers. We briefed them on the events and fundraisers we had planned for the year, and to ask any questions or give suggestions. Unfortunatley, we have very low turn out/support. :(

I would love to do a back to school carnival and as prizes give out school supplies, and trinkets, but on the eve of the first day of school the teachers have a meet the teacher night, and the kids go for a bus ride to review the bus rules, and to the cafeteria for juice and cookies. In the mean time the teacher reviews the year, and expectations of the children and parents and tries to open communication with the parents.

I would love to hear what your group decided to do and how the turn out was :)

Sheila Davis; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jleitner on July 18, 2009 at 4:35pm: We have a back to school event every year but not on the eve of first day of school (if that is what you are referring to). But what a neat concept! Last year we had a back to school luau and this year will hold back to school ice cream social. This is always a fun way to introduce yourself and let the kids get reaquainted. We usually wait until one week into school so we have more turn out and usually people sign-up at his time.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jleitner on July 18, 2009 at 4:48pm: If you did actually hold eve of first day of school event, you might have kids come in their pajamas and time wise hold it no later than eight so kids can go home and straight to bed. Also, ask your local fire dept to supervise firework display (as well permission). You can get really nice fireworks for reasonable amount at most firework stores. Maybe you could buy party hats and noisemakers as New Year Eve accessories would look like but affix labels to them with your "school year's eve" slogan. Maybe hire dj or use parent to dj and have balloon drop (if you are holding this in your cafeteria). We did this at one event and the kids loved it! I think you have a really cute idea! I'd love to hear more suggestions as well!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jessica Pagnotti on July 18, 2009 at 6:30pm: Thank you for all of your ideas, we are going to hold our "Back To School Celebration" on Wed. Aug 26th, and still incorporate, the national PTA school years eve, have a membership table, a committe sign up, with decriptions and displays of the working committees, a back to school supply raffle basket(s), (I have sent out many donation letters and waiting patiently to hear back) , a baking table with prepackaged cookie bags(50cents), and a "kids Corner" with activities and some games. We just need to work out some details; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tina Mack on July 20, 2009 at 5:25pm: I'm VP of Programs at my son's elementary school and I have been trying to figure out something to do at the Back to School orientation night. But neither the principal or I can get hold of the President to arrange a Board meeting to discuss if anybody would be willing to help. I'm thinking about having just the membership table decorated with a Back-to-school basket with school supplies for the parents who sign up will have a chance to win.(Drawing to be held at the end of the orientation night.) The Spirit Wear table selling the polo shirts and fun shirts and maybe have ice cream available after the parents and kids meet the teachers. What do you think?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jessica Pagnotti on July 23, 2009 at 7:12am: I think this is a great idea. We did the baskets at back to school night, with membership and it went well. Last year we also did a 50-50 drawing, we sold tickets for 1.00 the week before bts night. The winner took home 410.00 and the pta earned the other 410.00. Good luck this sounds great.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dina Handa on July 28, 2010 at 2:49pm: Our school holds a PIF (Parent Information Fair) every year as part of our Back to School Night event, held a few days prior to school beginning. We organize our committees to set up booths, for example any volunteer opportunities, hospitality, A/R reading program, membership, directory, etc. We usually have about 20 PTA booths, YMCA for afterschool care, Cafeteria services for lunch accounts, and the bus transportation system rep to answer any questions. We run it for 2 hours, and hold meet the teacher times for 1/2 each session. We call it a one stop shopping event. Parents can sign kids up for Spanish & Chess Clubs, purchase spirit wear, and learn about the many programs our school offers. We hold the event in the cafeteria, with a fair like setting. Its a great night of information and a good service to the parents who may not know all what the PTA does!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Glenda Franklin on July 23, 2009 at 2:10am: Hi, Just joined this group. At our elementary school's Open House, day before school-from 4- to 6pm we are using the cafetera and guy to set up a Free Ice Cream Social. We are having two Gift Baskets Give Aways, one at the membership table-ticket w/each new membership/renewel and the other at the survey tabel-ticket with completed survey. We collected product merchandice, services, gift cards from local merchants totaling over $200.00 each basket. Our new officers will be posted in different areas, such as the school front entry, and wearing matching t-shirts w/Office Held on shirt, to meet/greet families. We are only decorating the launch tables w/baloons, we have our own tablecloths. The ice cream social will have all kinds of toppings and flavors of ice cream to choose from. Should be a good time.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kathie Green on July 23, 2009 at 6:14pm: Shawnee Middle School PTSA is planning an Ice Cream Social the SUNDAY (YES - SUNDAY) night before school starts on Monday, August 24th. Our really great principal is going to open the school and let students come in and put away their new school supplies and make sure they know where their first class is. Families can also attend. It will be short and sweet - but may make things easier that Monday morning - especially for the 6th graders. Our school does have a "transition day" for 6th graders, but it is Aug. 13th - and some kids may not have their supplies yet. We hope this is just one more opportunity to get parents and students into our school in a positive manner that hopefully helps both staff and students!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kara Westhoff on July 26, 2009 at 8:52am: We aren't calling it School Year's Eve, but we are doing a Back-to-school Skating Bash at a local skating rink. Our school is in the middle of adding a gymnasium/classroom wing. We are excited, but are disappointed that it won't be ready for Meet Your Teacher Day. So, to give parents the opportunity to do paperwork, buy t-shirts, etc., we are holding an event away from the school. Also, we tend to have difficulty doing activities at the school before school starts (teachers are busy, things still being moved around, etc.) I saw the school year's eve flyer too...the idea looked like so much fun!

Good luck with your "celebration"!
Kara; ▶ Reply to This