This year we are trying to raise enrolment to our school early by holding an open house in May. What do most people generaly do? Cookies, balloons and information about the school, right? Some parents were almost describing a carnival type of day? With Games and a jumping castle ect.

We have done Open Houses several ways..I am assuming you are a private school? We have had them on Sunday afternoons and weekdays. We decided the school looked too "dead" on sundays. too quiet. But we did that because most of the private schools did it. This last year we did it on a school day. I think it worked better. We did not have spacewalks or anything like that. Never knew a school to do that but I can see it in some situations.
Shelly

I recall in years past, the school (not really the PTO) organized some activities for Open House. But they were class/student driven and designed to sort of show off what it would be like going to school there.

Our school is divided into 4 wings separated more or less gradewise. There would be one or two activities in each wing. It might be a craft, or a little play, story time, a game, etc. Something that would have been an age appropriate activity for that wing.

There may have also been some musical presentations on the stage. The gym and library were open. Some minor concessions were served. I think we probably started in the cafteria/stage area with announcements from the principal and the musical presentation. Then everyone was released to roam the school and visit all the classrooms and activity stations.

Note - our school also has a carnival/Spring Fling type event in late spring. That's a school-wide family event, but they often try to pass the word to area pre-schools so that families of next year's kindergarteners can come also.

An Ice Cream Social is easy and inexpensive to put together.
Our Kindergarten teacher and Principal give a tour of our school, differant groups (Parent Group, Cub Scouts, etc...) have a table set up for information. Very informal.

Thank you all so much for all of your imput. It has been very helpful. I think for the first year we'll keep it pretty low-key and get a feel for it. Thanks bunches
Jenn

We have done root beer floats before, but because Open House always seemed to be scheduled during the dinner hour, a few years ago we started serving supper. We have done pizza by the slice, and this year did hot dogs and chips. You can charge for the food(we usually just covered our cost with maybe $200 profit)but this year we did it all for free. It encourages people to hang around and chat and get to know the other families.