We have an ice cream social and try to keep things laid back and fun with out too much of a volunteer push.

zeekaboo-
thank you! our school handles the night, and there are always various tables of info in the foyer, and signup sheets... I'd like to help it become a bit more organized this year and help to promote which activites the PTO does and which ones the school does. Many parents at our school have no idea and assume many of the PTO's activites are funded by the school. This leaves them wondering what all the fuss is about for fundraising. One of the goals this year is to show the parents where the PTO money is going. I love the idea of the welcome packet! I think I'll set up a table with various signup sheets for parents who know that night they want to help and send more info home with everyone to view later. I have a huge felt trifold display board that I want to decorate with pictures and info showing what the PTO plans to do during the year, with picturs of activities from years past... I'm excited!

Our school of 500+ has 2 BTS nights. One is for multi-age, K-2 and the other is 3-5. That way, the all purpose room does not become overcrowded and the halways are easy to manuver.
Our PTO supplies the coffee and mimimal refreshments. The entire PTO board is there, and after the principals little welcome back speech, she introduces us and we have it from there. The parents really do not want to be bombarded about fundraising and the like on that night. We touch on the purpose of PTO, the difference between PTO and PTA (a lot of peoole are so confused about this) and what our goals are for the upcoming year. We also hand out packages with information for them to read at their leasure. The packs include a welcome letter, names and phones of the board, tips on becoming involved, the two hour pledge, and a smattering of other pertinant information such as PTo meeting dates, a new parent meeting and committees. The parents then go to the classrooms. WE have found this approach really works, and find parents approaching us at the end of the night asking how to help out.

the school is usually in charge of our Back to School night. The PTO only has the role of supplying refreshments for the event. The purpose is so parents can be introduced to the staff of the school, hear news and intentions of the school year by the Principal and then the PTO President makes a speech--usually begging for fundraiser participation and volunteers, but to also bring to their attention the great things we do with the funds we raise.

Then parents can go to the classrooms and meet the teachers and obtain material from them on expectations, grading process, discipline, schedules, etc.

Not all events that occur at the school are PTO run. This is one of them and we gladly just make coffee and supply some snacks and take the back seat!

Our PTO pays for hot dogs and buns, condiments, tableware, and drinks for our event. Parents bring in side dishes and desserts. We set up tables in the hallway located by the auditorium.

Our principal speaks and the PTO speaks about what we do and we try to get people to sign up to volunteer. We have a table set up in the auditorium where we display Box Tops products and have volunteer forms and clearances available. Then we eat and mingle, and then parents visit their child's classroom.

What does your PTO typically do for Back to School Night? This year our school is doing one for k-2 the week before school starts and the 3-5 graders a few days after school starts...

I plan to set up a table and invited parents to sign up for the PTO email list... all parents at our school are PTO members, we don't have dues...