We have "Movie Day" once each quarter, right about the time the teachers are needing a bit of extra time to do report cards.

We don't use it as a fundraiser, but you could if you wanted to. We rent two age appropriate movies, one for grades 1-3 and one for grades 4-6 (for instance grades 1-3 could see Walt Disney's Cinderella and grades 3-6 could see the Julie Andrews one, Princess Diary's ((or whatever that was called)), which was Cinderella for older kids). We send a note home telling the parents to send water bottles with the kids and the school (either Student Council or PTVO) provides a bag of popcorn for each student. You could charge for the popcorn, but we don't. It is supposed to, for us anyway, be a treat for the whole student body while providing the teachers with some 'down' time to do report cards. The event costs are minimal, the cost of renting a movie, popcorn, oil and bags (which you purchase in bulk at Smart and Final (10% discount) or Sams Club (we don't have one) or where ever...). It is a very inexpensive way to really treat your entire school...lol... This is a big hit with the kids.

For Red Ribbon, I did something a bit different. We didn't do the ribbons, we did the tin pin-on buttons. Each student was told to hang on to the button for 'Surprise Drug Free Days' later in the year. I used donated prizes (I got them from the treasure chest of cheap stuff that our Santa Shop provided. They suggested selling the stuff for a dime, but I saw an opportunity for a free, year long drug free program). About every 6 weeks or so, the Asst. Principal and I declared a "Drug Free Day" and went classroom to classroom. Every student who had their pin got a free prize out of the box. If they had lost their pin, they got a new pin. This was a big hit with the kids, especially the ones who hung on to their original pin all year. It warmed my heart each time a student passed me in the hall and held up their pin for me to see. The pins, by the way, said "I Believe In Me Drug Free". They never realized than each day they looked at the pin, that they were planting their own seeds of being drug free in the future.

During "red ribbon" week we do a different theme every day - one day is "glasses" day and encourages kids to "seek out wise people", one day is "hat" day and encourages kids to "keep a lid on put-downs, one day is "clash" day designed to encourage the kids to seek out and recognize differences in different people. Friday is school spirit day - either wear school shirt or school colors to show school spirit.

Even though you didn't ask I'll give you my opinion on pajama day - when it has happened at school I have allowed my kids to wear their slippers, but not pajamas. Yes, they take some flak from other kids, and even once from a teacher as there was a percentage of participation reward. Here's why I don't allow PJ's outside of the house - in MY opinion (not the only way to look at it or the right way - just MY way) "intimate apparel" belongs in the home. I think kids these days can get the wrong impression and if I let them wear pajamas to school in elementary school I don't want to have to explain in middle school or high school why it is different, why they can't wear "skimpies" or the like to school. I think that there are plenty of other alternatives besides wearing pajamas - just my two cents.

Some of the things the kids have come up with at our school are pajama day, stuffed animal day, and backwards day. The kids make posters, everyone has a great time.

[ 06-25-2002: Message edited by: clarzmom ]</p>

I'm trying to find different things for our children to get involved with this year. In the past we have had spirit day and also clash day. I was wondering what your PTO does during the year that does not need PTO parents at the school but yet gets the children involved?

We also have spirit week where the kids dress up in our school colors and we decorate the classroom doors. We celebrate Dr Suess's birthday every year.

I was thinking about holding (with principal's permission) a hat day and bandana day. Something for the kids to get involved with but yet doesn't interupt the day for the teachers.

What do you do different at your school that doesn't cost anything but yet is fun for the children?

best wishes,

Renee