We are hosting our 1st Annual Back to School Bash in conjunction with the Open House. From 5-7 students can come and meet their teachers, see their classrooms and then enjoy dinner (concession stand), play in a bounce house and we'll have a dunking booth with the upcoming football players and cheerleaders. Then from 7-9pm we will have an old fashioned street dance with a dj! We are pretty excited!!

We have a back to school parade, outside weather permitting. At the parade, each classroom carries signs decorated by the PTO and each child signs their name on the sign. We have balloon bouquets and all the NEW students to the school get to stand in the middle of a large circle of classrooms and get a big welcome with our school song. The kids love it!

Last year we moved the open house up to the first Friday of the school year at night and we invited all the parents and grandparents to the school. The big goal was to meet new teachers and classmates parents but we had face painting and popsicles and snacks to add some fun to the night. We're doing it again this year.

We have a Back To School Picnic the week before school resumes. Flyers are mailed to all the families (actually the date is included in the report cards in June)and these flyers are reminders/invitations. The families bring their own food, drinks and a blanket. They meet old friends and their teachers and make new friends. We sell ice cream from a local ice cream parlor and make a slight profit. We also have info at a table about our parent group, different activities, sell T-Shirts and Scrip. The teachers each make a sign with their name on it and stick it in the grass so the children and their families know where to plant themselves. It is usually planned from 5:30 - 7:30 to give them time to get home from work, grab some food and get home early before dark. It is great fun and makes a wonderful starting point for the new school year.

I would like our parents club to have something for the kids (grades K-5) to welcome them back to school. Anyone have any ideas?
We have our annual school carnival fund raiser in March, so this event would have to be cheap or free. We have around 600 students in our school. Thanks!!!!!