We too do our "back to school" night as an open house. We just revamped the format at our PTO meeting last night since last year our Principal didn't like the way it was layed out. From 6:30 -7:00 we served Ice cream floats (Donated pop and ice cream from a store) and then had a meeting from 7:00 - 7:30ish and then dismissed parents to go to the classrooms and meet their teacher. The teachers then talked to the parents about curiculum, etc... and there were two "periods" for you to go other classes (for more than one child).

This year we are doing a "Join us for dessert after supper" invitation with dessert on tables available from 6:30 - 7:00 then all go to the gym, kids sit by class on one side, parents on the other (cuts down on chatter which was a prob. last year), then the kids will sing a patriotic song and be dismissed to their classroom. Then the fundraising guy will do a 5-7 min. speil and then I get to do my little chat about PTO and then we all go "meet and greet" the teachers. No periods, no curriculum talk (you can schedule a conference), just meet the teachers and other parents and go to the rooms. Simple and sweet.

P.S. One year they did a spaghetti dinner before the meeting and people tended to eat the free food and then leave! Not what you want! LOL!

We use our Open House as our Back to School night. It's killing 2 birds with 1 stone. We try to get volunteers, sell t-shirts, the whole bit. This is actually our first year of selling stuff at it, hope it works.

Does anyone have "back to school" nights? When are they typically held?? What all do you do?? We have our Open House and then our first PTO meeting- nothing in the agenda about a back to school night! However it has been mentioned that in the past we have had them. Being the new president, I am looking for new or new again ideas. Any thoughts would be wonderful !!!!! :confused: