We are kind of in the same boat. We are not doing any fundraisers this year and focusing on spirit. We are doing t-shirts and water bottles and magnets. Things we can put our school name and Hornet on. Our carnival and santa shop are the only other big things, everything is math night, movie night, reading night in Feb on Dr. Seuss' birthday, and those kinds of things. Our principal was on the same page with us once we explained that our parents are really burned out from catalog fundraisers and having to sell gift wrap and cookies every year. We realize money may be lower, but we think the long term effects of really focusing on spirit and community will pay off. We may be poor this year, but we will be Happy little Hornets!
Originally posted by Renee S: Have a Reading Night. If you hold a book fair, have it then. That way you can read read books from the fair. Otherwise, library books, teacher picks... You can have a police officer, firefighter,... come in and read. Hold it in different areas so you have a few readings going on.
And best of all.... you can get a completely free how-to kit (including posters and flyers) for putting on a great Family Reading Night here: www.schoolfamilynights.com
Have a Reading Night. If you hold a book fair, have it then. That way you can read read books from the fair. Otherwise, library books, teacher picks... You can have a police officer, firefighter,... come in and read. Hold it in different areas so you have a few readings going on. You can have people bring in cookies/cupcakes to share. McDonalds usually will donate juice and cups. And there's really no cost, other than providing napkins for the snacks. You can have the kids come in their pjs and bring their favorite stuffed animal. I believe families need to be included in the school. Good luck.
I'm a new pres this year. Typically, all of our fundraising money goes to either the teachers for classroom purchases or purchases for the school. Last year we got books for the lower classrooms lending libraries and purchased special notebooks for the upper grades that normally the school would purchase but was financially unable to do so last year. Year before that it was something else for the school. Teachers have not been given any money for classroom needs in two years, nor have we EVER had a free family night event.
Because we are an 80% low income school and have a budget of less than $2000, I would like to change things a little this year. I think we should focus more on the families of our school. Our parental involvement is extrememly low (as in few volunteers and no one attending meetings). Many people think of the PTO as a fundraising tool for the administration, so they don't get involved. I think by offering some free family nights, we can get back to basics, get families more involved, and thus eventually raise more money for the school.
But...how do I do this without alienating the administration and basically telling them they aren't getting any money from us this year? And is my idea a good one in the first place???
This is our principal's second year at our school, and she and I did not see eye to eye on everything last year when I was VP, although we both seem to be fiscally conservative ( as in let's not waste what little money we have). We do not have bylaws (which I am also changing this year).
