Oh, and on the "Gap", do you have a Teacher Rep that attends all meetings? Perhaps you can either have one rep, or have 1 per grade come and then rotate. Let them know you are there to help as well. Ask for their input (What can PTO buy for them that the school district cannot afford? Books, software??) And if they are PTO members, they get a vote/say in things you do. Our teachers did not realize that until recently.
I've got a great idea for you. Go to madscience.org. They have everything from science booths to full experiments. Scienceadventures.com can also do "make and take" hands on projects. Costs range from $200 on up. Perhaps some HS or college kids can come do some experiments?? Ask your science teachers also for help. Try your local art councils for ideas also. Do a search under Young Audiences. Also check out Earthballoon.com is also good. We are planning them for around Earth week.
OK. The board had a meeting with our new principal last week. She wants to bridge the gap between the teachers and the PTO so she came up with a great idea, but we don't know how to pull it off. We are a K-5 elementary school of approx 400 children. We have about 30 solid volunteers and the rest help out when they can. Our principal would like to send the teachers off site for a "collaboration" half day where the teachers will have workshops or just be able to work with the other teachers at our school to design some interesting curriculum or just use it for planning. The PTO fits in as the "babysitters". The principal thought that we could do "enrichment " activities where the kids are learning something but its not a classroom activity. We are stumped as to where to start. We have some ideas for activities but 400 kids! It will be chaos. Has anyone ever done this before and if so.... Help!
