PTO Today

We have a BTS for the last 4 years. At this event we have the kids come to a common area and the parents go to the classrooms. Then parents come back to get the children and they go visit the classroom. So, first we had them go to the playground, which was great the problems we had --we had a sign in/out this was too congestive. Then parents had a hard time finding the kids(running on the playground) not enough volunteers.

Then we moved them into the lunch room (3rd year) to watch cartoons on the big screen. This worked out great for the younger kids but the older kids (3rd and 4th graders) were bored.
Plus we have the drama of the bathroom visits--and playing in the hallways.
Did I mention not enough volunteers.

This year we have thought of just playing games and having cartoons play on just two tvs and have tables set up so the older kids can just socialize.

The volunteers are hard because the teachers only have 30 minutes slots but that doesn't include taking the child back so many of our parents have children of many grades so they can't be in two places at once. I think I have came up with a little solution--if your time is 6-6:30 then I'm asking them to come and work the 5:30-6:00 shift and so forth. This may help with the teachers running over and so forth.

I would like to know what others do for BTS night?

We also feed the teachers dinner.

My officers are tried of this event and think the children should stay home.
The principal feels this helps the children for the first day of school.

Any ideas will help. Thanks

I think the kids should absolutely come to BTS night! They are the ones coming "Back to School"!! I think you're on the right track with your volunteers, asking them to work the 30 minute shift either before or after their time with their child's teacher. At our school, we also ask our support staff to help out (guidence counselor, media specialist, lunch room monitors) because we usually have a shortage of parent volunteers and they are more than happy to help out. I think the lunch room is probably your best bet as far as child "containment" (LOL)...if offers a quieter enviroment for parents to find their children afterwards. Again, I think you're on the right track as far as offering several different activities for the different age groups. Good Luck!

At our elementary Open House the kids and parents visit the classroom together. The teachers don't have time slots for each family, they are just in the classroom and will chat with the students and their parents as they come in. If the parents need private time with the teacher she can then set up something for them. It's much more informal than your event.

I think you are on the right track with your plan for organizing volunteers and a2's idea of asking the support staff to help is a great one. Often times I don't think parents and students even visit with these teachers, so it would be a great chance for at least the students to get to know them.

Instead of sign in/out, you could just use a number system where when the parents drop off the child(ren) you write a number on the back of each person's hand. When they pick up you would just have someone verify that everyone has the same number on their hand. Not perfect, but much simpler.

As for bathroom breaks, are you letting kids just go as they need to? If so, change to a situation where every 15 minutes you call bathroom break and anyone who has to go lines up with designated volunteers and heads out. This is similar to the way the kids will have it during the school day, so they might as well get used to it early.

__________________
Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat.

Our back to school night is a meet the teacher night, where the school is open and parents and students tour their room and say hi to their teacher together. They drop off their school supplies and then head to the cafeteria to free ice cream. The PTO table is set up there and we have registration. This year will will also have our spiritwear on display and for sale.

Families come to school during the three hours that is good for them, no scheduled times.

Also, the volunteers I chose for that event are ones who have had students at the school several years and know all most all of the teachers. The teachers know most of the PTO parents and will know that we are in the school, and that we are signing up new members.

I totally agree with Vmomo3. Why be so stingent to the "no kids" in the classroom rule?

One idea you might try is to have tour guides for the night. It can even be some of the older students (they would love this). Maybe start the evening off with the tours where one goes to the gym, another to the music room, another to the computer room, etc. Have the tour go around and maybe end up at the teacher's classrooms.

I'm sure you could go a different route than the tour groups, but the point is that if you change up the evening you can resolve all of the problems that you are experiencing. Volunteer requirements would be minimalized. No need for games, or big screens, etc. You can still have volunteer parents used as question answerers. This way after the teacher presents what they want to, there would be others besides the teacher that can answer some of the parent's questions.

Anyway, that is what I would do if in your situation.

Regards,
PresidentJim

During our back to school night parents and children meet in the multi-purpose room.
At this time the principal, guidance counselor and usually the PTO pres. each do a short talk. Everyone is then dismissed to go to their respective classrooms. In the older grades
(4th-6th) the teachers usually meet as a team with all the parents and students. In the younger grades (where they just have one teacher) they meet in their individual classrooms. Kindergarten is actually done on a separate night so that it is not so overwhelming. They are welcome to come again for the big event. New families come about a week before at New Family Night. This is a much smaller event. Our school has aprox. 528 students grades K-6. We serve cookies and punch and or bottled water.
The teachers explain what will go on during the yr. and what is expected of the students.
Later in the yr. we have an open house for parents to come and view their children's
work. This is usually between the hrs. of 5:00-7:00.
We do not have a specific PTO registration. If you are a parent, grandparent etc. you are welcome to be a part of the PTO. During the first month of school we then send out a
volunteer form for things like Holiday Shop, grandparent's day, RIF, Daffodil Days etc.
Then our volunteer coordinator compiles a list from the volunteer forms with names and phone numbers for each event.
Volunteering in the classroom is separate and done by the homeroom coordinator and the teacher. Library and cafeteria vol. are also done seperately.
We have a very dedicated group of PTO volunteers and are always looking for new ideas and faces!
Have a great school year!

Happy PTO Vice Pres.

In our town high school kids need so many community service hours to graduate. We put out a call to the high school kids to help man our elementary school functions. As long as there are some adults it is fine. It helps when there is a shortage of volunteers. Maybe this is a route you could try for extra hep on your BTS night.

We have 2 BTS Nights. We start out with K-2. Then a few days later we do 3-6 with a different movie. These are both held after the new school year starts. We hold an Icecream Social the day before school starts, so kids can find their classroom, drop off their supplies and meet their teacher.

The kids are dropped off in the lunch room to watch a movie, if they want. Parents go to the classroom to meet the teacher. Our principal makes a presentation over the TV and then goes by each classroom. We also have sign-up sheets on each chalkboard for all of our big volunteer needs, so volunteers can show interest that night.

Our school's is VERY INFORMAL, but it has worked great for all involved. Our student population is around 600 for the K-5 grade and it is an "open house". The school is opened for ONE hour. Parents and children alike are invited in to tour the entire school - not just classrooms (as this is the only time some parents get to see misc classrooms). Our local Kiwanis group helps by directing traffic. You go to your classroom, bring your supplies, stand in line to say hello to your teacher and then in your "cubbie" in a list of things you can do/check out that night. In the Lunchroom, you can pay for lunch meals, sign up for afterschool program, our boy/girl scouts each have a table for sign-ups and of course the PTO has a table right up front to display logo wear, fall fundraiser info, label collecting programs, and then the officers will greet with flyers like
1. Officer/Committee list
2. What has our PTO done in the last year
3. When our meetings are
4. Sign up sheets for the various events that we need volunteers for right away.

Then the children (and younger siblings) are given a treat (popsicle) on their way out the door, courtesy of the PTO.

It is a little crazy for that hour, but it gets the job done and gets everyone home to bed for the next big day. Hope this helps.