Schools Are Really Getting Into the Holiday Season and We're Here for It

We round up lots of fun ways your group can make the holiday season a little brighter with festive activities and events that will become new traditions for your school community!

Deck the lockers fundraiser

Here's how it works: ask families for gift wrap donations and charge a set amount for each locker and staff door. This festive fundraiser raised just over $1,600 for Cass City Red Hawk PTO (they charged $4 per locker and $5 per staff door).

@ptotoday Deck the lockers! This festive fundrasier raised just over $1,600 ✨ 📸 Cass City Red Hawk PTO #ptolife #schoolfundraiser #ptopresident #ptamom #ptomom ♬ Deck the Halls Fa La La - Fat Cat

Battle of classroom doors (holiday edition)

@ptotoday Battle of the classroom doors is a fun new holiday tradition your PTO can start now! 📸 Hamilton Christian PTO #classroomdecor #ptomoms #ptamoms #ptopresident #ptapresident #schoolvolunteer #ptolife #ptalife #holidayvibes ♬ It's Giving Holiday - Target

Convince your principal to dress up like Elf on the Shelf...and sit on the school roof to welcome students at drop-off

This is also a fun, low-cost fundraising incentive for students!

Chalking the restroom mirrors

For the last week of school, Brookside Elementary PTO in Nicholasville, Kentucky used these liquid chalk markers to draw festive characters and positive sayings (like "Just be your elf" and "You shine so bright") on student restroom mirrors.

Holiday carols about school rules

Jenni Gaderlund of Graham Middle School has an annual tradition of singing parodies of holiday carols that are all about student supervision!

A jolly treat trolley for teachers

Teachers enjoy snacks and treats (even hot cocoa) from the "holly jolly snack cart" or the "jingle bell express".

Holiday Lights Event

Imagine Trunk or Treat, but during the holiday season. Wilson Cornwall Terrace PTO planned a Holiday Lights event, featuring trunks decked out in holiday themes for families to enjoy.

Surprise Grinch cups for teachers

Frances E. Norton Elementary PTA in Allen, Texas used rubber bands to secure green tissue paper to green cups filled with Grinch Hershey kisses, mini candy canes, and a special gift (festive leather earrings, Stanley straw toppers and holiday socks). Each cup was then topped with a red heart sticker. (Shop this idea on Amazon: green tissue paper, green cups, and red heart stickers.) 

Winter break buddies

West Jefferson Parent Teacher Organization sent each student home with a stuffed "buddy" and a bingo sheet of challenges to keep them engaged and learning over winter break. Parents are encouraged to share photos of their kids (and their stuffed buddies) over winter break!

A very merry front entrance

We're always blown away by the front entrances at Horizon Elementary, thanks to their super creative PTO! Take a look behind the scenes of their festive holiday set up on their PTO's Facebook page. 

School Holiday Shop

Grab our very best holiday shop planning tips, tools (like a timeline) and Canva templates in our free guide. If you're going the DIY route, check out 21 Cute Holiday Shop Ideas Your Group Can Totally Pull Off.

Hot cocoa bar for teachers

You'll need hot cocoa packets, whipped cream, cups and holiday cookies, of course!

@ehe_pto Cocoa Bar to keep the teachers Warm #cocoabar #hotchocolate #parentteacherorganization #ptomomsunite ♬ It's the Most Wonderful Time of The Year - The Xmas Specials

Invite the Grinch to drop by your school for a few shenanigans

The Grinch, of course, was VOLUN-told to be here. Anything to bring a little joy to the school, right?!

Hide elves all over the school for teachers to find

Props to Nelson PTA for giving their teachers this festive midday break!

@nelsonpta #teachers #staff #christmas #elves #elfontheshelf #elementryschool #pta #happyholidays #spreadthejoy #hideandseek #polarexpress ♬ Elf - Main Theme - Geek Music

School spiritwear for your Elf of a Shelf (yes really)

You know you're a PTO leader when you come up with the brilliant idea to sell school spirit wear for elves... 

@ptotoday Only a PTO volunteer would come up with this. Well done 👏 #ptolife #ptomom #elfontheshelf #spiritwear ♬ Auld Lang Syne - Dick Walter

Jingle Bell Run

Get our very best fun run tips, Canva templates and more to help your group plan the ultimate fun run.

@ptotoday These Jingle Bell Run decorations are 🔥 Nice work by 📸 @sw_pto #ptomomsoftiktok #ptopresident #ptapresident #ptolife #schoolfunrun ♬ original sound - PTOToday ✨ School Family Media

Turning teachers into snowmen

Teachers don the ugliest of the their ugly sweaters for a contest. Then, teams of students from each grade get to turn willing teachers into snowmen!

That's a Wrap!

Set up complimentary rolls of wrapping paper, bows, and tape before sending teachers off on holiday break. Get the free sign in our year’s worth of appreciation mega bundle!

Holiday parade in the hallways

Woodrow Wilson PTO held a Christmas parade in the school hallways featuring live music. What a festive way to welcome winter break!

Cocoa, Cookies and Canvas Paint Night

Invite students to make holiday cards to deliver to nursing homes and soldiers stationed overseas

Make a giant nutcracker out of Home Depot buckets

If you haven't caught wind of this viral TikTok trend yet, it's not too late to snag some buckets!

@katie_quest Come make a life size Nutcracker Christmas decoration with me #diy ♬ Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71, TH.14 / Act 1 - No. 2 March - Mariinsky Orchestra & Valery Gergiev