I have started a incentive program at my child's elementary school and have gotton alot of donations from local businesses to make donations to the school. I had drawings for parents who regestered to become volunteers and have given teachers incentives to give to parents who volunteer and have monthly drawings all school year
Thanks so much for your reply. I think my parking idea is pretty much toast. I will present your ideas to my PTO soon before our open house. I agree it is very sad and I also believe that the kids need to see their parents helping in the school!
Hi my name is Robin and I am the PTO president at our Middle school and the secretary at our Elementary school I am also
very involved with putting together a new volunteer program to try to get more volunteers into the school. Its said to say how we have to do whatever possible to get more people involved. I have put together a package of everything that we need volunteers to go to the parents the first week of school and at the same time I have put together a volunteer form for the teachers to come back to us letting us know
what days, times, hours, for whatever they need volunteers for so that we may get them into the school for them. And at the same time working on getting room moms in for all the classrooms. I was told last year that besides there being a few teachers that did not want any volunteers that teachers that really needed them did not have any at all.
I feel it is very important to have these volunteers and roommoms/roomdads volunteering whenever possible. I was also thinking about incentives to get more of them involved. One idea I came up with (which ofcourse I have to bring to my board and to the first general meeting) would be to keep a log of all volunteers coming into the school. There would be a note book in the front office where they would sign in and out and I would keep track of the hours. Then at the end of every marking period lets say we could give that parent a $25.00 gift certificate to either Walmart -KMart - Dinner and a movie something of that sort.
Also at the end of the year the volunteer with the most hours would get a larger certificate (price would have to be voted on) and maybe a special plaque or certificate thanking them for putting in the most hours within a school year. These are just some ideas. I do know that when I was active with our PTA in Florida before moving back to New York - my old school did these but they did it on a monthly basis.And the truth be known it helped to get more volunteers into the school. They were there to work and get something inreturn for it. Its said but it works. Also you could do for the most who volunteered in a classroom - who voluneered in another area but with the most hours. There is alot that can be done.
But like I said earlier I just feel it is said that we have to do this inorder to get the volunteers in but if we have to then so be it. The kids need it and believe me I know the teachers need it just as much.
Hope this helps
Robin Ciciarelli Mattydale, New York
Hey I've spent alot of time praying about this upcoming schoolyear. Parental involvement has always been a major hurdle at our school. Has anyone here ever tried an incentive program for parents??
1st I think it is pitiful that we have to create incentives to get parents involved but I'm trying to break through the barriers and hook some parents on involvement.
I've called my principle and have a meeting set up for Aug 2. Right now I'm looking to start small but I have huge dreams!! I'm thinking of a designated prime parking space for a month for the parent or their chosen representative for school functions and pickup and drop off at school.
Ok here is my thought. I could create a general volunteer packet, in this would be a sheet that needs to be initialed by the teacher, principle or PTO exec committee for time parents put in both in and out of the classroom, for any school related function benefitting our school. And each month the executive committee could chose a deserving parent.
We already have a couple small built in incentives such as I just found out that parents that help on Picture day get their child's pictures free. I think they will only offer this to 2-3 parents. Some schools have a waiting list of parents. I wish mine had a waiting list. LOL.
Also with the scholastic book fair I got over $100 in merchandise that I used to get X-mas presents. I don't want others to feel like they don't get any perks so I think I'm going to really try to get the PTO officers behind me on this. I've already got the principal's interest piqued!!
Just some ideas to share and see if anyone else has ever had success in something like this.
My hope and dream is to see all schools at all levels in our community have an explosion of parental involvement. That is the greatest reward I could hope for!!!
