Okay, here's a fun idea we're mixing around to start off next year.

We want to host a "Back to School Beach Blanket Block Party" for all our families before school starts next year.

Has anyone ever done this before? We've thought of hiring a DJ (or my hubby may be able to do this himself) to play all "beach" music (like the beach boys), having family races (like a 3 legged race), everyone bring picnic food for themselves, have a volleyball net and play with a beach ball.

We just want to do something for all the families to get them excited about the first day of school. This may make it easy on the new students and it may also give the teachers and staff a little jump start of fun before the big day.

any thoughts or ideas would be GREATLY appreciated.

We do this at the end of the year. We, the PTA, provide the drinks(soda, lemonaide, ice tea, etc.) and the hot dogs & burgers. Every family brings a side dish or dessert. If we don't have enough money left, we ask for a $5.00 donation per family.

We have relay races, egg toss, water balloon toss, kick ball game, basketball game, etc.

We post a schedule for different games and those who want to play play. We do get a large turn out and have been doing this for the past 7 years. It runs from 1pm- 7pm. We borrow the big gas grill from the fire department and have use of teh kitchen and bathrooms from the school. Our principal plays announcer and loves it.hope this helps!

Our new executive committee is meeting Tuesday night go get things started for next year.

Our school district does not allow "home made" food to be brought in (hepatitis reasons) so we MAY have to make the food ourselves at the school. Our challenge with that is that we want to do this BEFORE the 1st day of school and we're afraid that we won't be able to get the number of volunteers to pull this off.

The relay races sound like fun . . .what types of races do you do?

I should clarify this . . . ..we are not allowed to bring in homemade food TO BE SHARED, but I'm wondering if each family brought in their own picnic food to eat if that would be okay???? we'll see????

I'm sure supplying the drinks wouldn't be a problem for out PTO. Asking for a donation would turn our families away LOL, that's just how they are LOL>

When we first started this, each family brought their own food and PTA supplied the desserts. Since then it has grown so we now it it differently. As for teh races it's 4 teams for each race.
1. Clothes pile- race down get dressed run back, undress, next person up.

2. fill the bucket with water from a sponge

3. egg on spoon race

4. sack race

5. obstacle course

6. tug of war

7. skooter basketball- every who plays has to be sitting on a skooter.

8. skooter races.

These were done in the past but we change them around every year. Hope this helps you out.

Everything is a go with the Principal, as long as I will be in charge of it.

I'M SO EXCITED !!!! My hubby and i took a walk up to the school so he could plan out where the music will be set up. He's a communications electrician and deals in AV so he's going to create a "rack" on a trailer.

The night before will be "meet the teacher night" and school will start two days later.

PTO is going to provide soda and water and hot dogs. We're going to have a beach theme with beach music including the electric slide and cha cha slide.

Families can bring lawn chairs/tables with umbrella's.

We've got 4 relay races and a hula hoop contest which we'll reward the winner with movie passes, restaurant gift cards or video rental gift cards. I've alse sent a letter to our local WB tv station requesting promotional items to give away as prices as well.

THANK YOU for all your ideas on getting this first ever event going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm hoping this bring excitement back to the families up at our school. It's been such a negative place for so many years.