PTO Today

Tim talks about the 2010 Back2School Program and explains why parent group leaders should take advantage of this great opportunity to reach out and connect with parents at their schools.

Yes, I know it’s still January, but this is actually when we start accepting registrations from groups who want to sign up for our very cool annual Back2School package of know-how for your group and giveaways for your parents. You don’t want to miss this one.

Complete details on Back2School 2010 are here on the website. The program does fill up, and we have to turn away groups every year.

As a summary, the centerpiece of the Back2Schoool offering is Jump In! magazine, which is written to help parents make it a great school year. How and why to get involved. Tips for communicating with teachers and helping the kids succeed in school. Lots of stuff. You get one copy for each parent in your school to hand out from your parent group. (Check out some sample Jump In! articles and other content.)

We also provide custom materials to help you make the most of back-to-school night and ideas on kicking off a great involvement year for your PTO or PTA. There are usually extra giveaways from our sponsors and supporters, as well, which are always nice. And all of it is completely free for K-8 PTOs and PTAs.

Again, here’s the link for learning more and signing up. Hope we can help you take advantage.

Yup, Lowe’s.

Lowe’s has been a huge supporter of schools and of PTOs and PTAs these past few years (their Lowe’s Toolbox for Education program has given millions to PTOs and PTAs these past 5 years), and I’ve really enjoyed working with their whole team on a variety of projects.

But when they started talking about Lowe’s giftcards as good teacher appreciation and holiday gifts, even I was a bit skeptical. After all – you can’t exactly buy ceramic apples at Lowe’, right?

After they walked me through a few things they’re doing though, I was impressed. And I think it’s worth a look for you.

First of all, while you can’t get ceramic apples — you can get about a billion other things, tons of which would be great for a teacher. (Classroom stuff and stuff for when the teachers are being actual normal everyday people). Think: plants, gardening tools, organizing bins for the classroom, even Christmas decorations. And a whole bunch more.

Even better, Lowe’s now has the ability for you to customize your gift card in a very cool way. You can, for example, add a picture of your son or daughter along with “Mrs. B – thanks for helping me with fractions!” right on the giftcard. How cool is that?

Check out their Lowe’s giftcard page and the personalization features before you make your holiday gift choices this year.

By now the lastest issue of the issue of PTO Today should be in your PTO or PTA mailbox. Don’t let it sit there — lots of great stuff to make this your best year yet!

Some of the article highlights in this issue include:

• Yearlong Travel Theme Makes Learning Fun
• Creating a Long-Term Plan
• Get Out and Smell the Coffee
• Sample PTO Strategic Plan

Happy reading!

Man, am I glad we have this Teach Flu a Lesson flu vaccination initiative out for schools and PTOs and PTAs.  When we started working on it last year, the flu was certainly a concern.  But then the Swine Flu came around and… well… it’s just about the hottest topic in the entire school world this year.

There have been dozens of articles out in recent weeks with predictions for this coming flu season and tons of news about schools possibly being the first line of defense in preventing the flu from really devastating communities.  It makes sense – schools are both: 1) where kids can so easily pass bugs from one to another; and 2) where we can most easily get the kids in one place for prevention.

That’s why I’m so thankful for Teach Flu a Lesson. The free kit has everything you need to know about your PTO or PTA bringing vaccinations right to your school.  Great fit as part of a health fair or as part of a Health Week or – this year especially – as a stand-alone program, since interest and concern is so high.   Hit that link to learn more or sign up.

A long-time stalwart of our message boards reminded me today about a great thread that is perfect for this time of year.

New to PTO leadership or just want some quick reminder reading, as the new year begins?  Then this thread – entitled “Tips, Tricks and Peeves” – is perfect for you.  It’s a list of all the little things that a whole bunch of PTO leadership veterans have learned over the years.  Everything from “if you have a sign-up sheet, bring extra pens” to “don’t tape your directions to the table because no one can read them once the crowd comes in”.  Stuff like that.  Priceless.

Hope you’ll also feel free to add your own hard-learned words of wisdom…

Came across this article about how 6th graders are “kids are caught in the inbe-tween” when it comes to school. It asks the question: where do these tweens fit in a school system– elementary school or middle school?  Always an interesting and heated debate.

What caught my eye in the article though, is how the writer suggests that the answer to this question affects parent involvement at the school.

…national research suggests that increasing the number of years a student attends middle school — from two years to three or four — can strengthen student connection as well as parent involvement. Those factors have been linked positively to student achievement.

We all can agree that a parent’s involvement at school has a positive impact. What’s less than clear, relative to parent involvement during the middle school years is: What’s the right type and amount? In other words, tweens aren’t the only ones who feel like they are “caught in the inbetween!”

Volunteering at our kid’s elementary school is a given for many of us. In high school, parents jump back in to extracurricular activities, like booster clubs and graduation projects.  But when our kids hit middle school and are trying to separate — what form does parent involvement take? How much is the right amount to make you feel connected to your kids and their school without crossing the proverbial line?

We have several good articles about parent involvement in middle school. Check them out, then tell us how you think parents should be involved in their middle schooler’s school? What do you think in the *right* amount?

Interested in hearing your thoughts.

Living here in the Northeast, our schools go back fairly late, usually right around Labor Day.  So I consider August 15th the kick-off to back-to-school for our family.  (Already told the kids that this was the last weekend before “operation re-adjust bedtimes” gradually begins.  That went over very well.)

For me, back-to-school time also brings thoughts of how we’re going to introduce the PTO to parents this year.  That first Open House or back-to-school night can be so important for setting the stage correctly.  This article from Denver  gives parents advice for making the most of back-to-school night, but what about advice for us PTO and PTA leaders.

My 3 best tips:

1. Think welcoming and serving. Do not – I repeat do not – make it all about fundraising.  Parents will support you with their pocketbooks and wallets *after* they connect with your group and your good work.  Have a column on this concept of The Welcoming PTO here.

2. Address parent fears.  Nearly every parent in the room is thinking either: 1) “they’re a clique”; or 2) if I volunteer once (like a Black Hole) I’ll never get out.  You can’t ignore those thoughts.  Address them head-on. My column on PTOs and Cliques is here. And the best solution to the Black Hole problem, is our 2 Hour Power program.

3. Be fairly quick and light-hearted. You’re trying to draw people in.  Don’t use guilt.  And don’t drone.  You won’t completely convince all your future volunteers with one speech, but you could completely lose a whole bunch of them with one overly-long, too-heavy or guilt-giving speech.

Our editors and writers have covered best back-to-school advice for PTO and PTA leaders in loads of ways.  Take some time to review, and I know you’ll do great.

Have seen countless articles about how the economy is impacting  back-to-school shopping. This recent article talks about how parents and PTO & PTA groups are getting creative for back-to-school shopping during a recession.  Many are taking advantage of the power of a group to help parents out.

A number of PTA and PTO groups put together packages that let parents take advantage of bulk purchasing savings without having to hunt every item down in the store. Chesak/Martin PTA President Dana Wiley said the “Wrap Paks” that her group assembles have quality items that are cost-effective for parents. The kindergarten package costs $55, she said. But for families where that is still too steep, the PTA has bought a few extra supply kits.

Has your PTO or PTA done anything differently this year to help out in the area of back-to-school shopping?

Share your thoughts and ideas!