Oh man, SHC. Sounds like your group is exactly why we started the School Family Nights program.
First, I think Family Movie Night appeals really, really well as a family event for kids all the way from K-8. Your choice of movie -- and what you build around the movie and how you market it -- would obviously be different depending on age group. Example: for K-3, we've seen a lot of groups doing some version of "bring a blanket" for nighttime movie (lights lower, etc.). For 5-8, you might choose science fiction something and have kids dressing up and maybe integrate a science fiction art project or science fiction games/stories. It's up to you.
More importantly, the purpose is fun and building community and building involvement. It's the most important thing your group can do. (And nicely, you'll actually raise more money in the long-run when you've changed your reputation away from just fundraising.)
I agree that parents will find it perhaps odd, if you currently do no community-building involvement events. You'll likley get lower turnout than other groups who already have a reputation for fun and community. But there's no better time to start changing your reputation than today. If you get 20 families to your first event, and it's great, and folks have a ton of fun and you celebrate it in your newsletters, yadda, yadda -- then you're likely to get 25 or 30 at your second such event. And maybe 30 or 40 at your third. It's slow, but it's so worth it.
Good luck. All of us here would love to help you out getting started.
We are a K3-8 school. I was wondering, if we held one of these, what ages this would appeal to. The movie would have to be G rated, of course (no PG). I can't picture that the middle school would find this interesting. I'm not sure even how our parents would react--I think they might wonder what the "purpose" of it is. Does anyone else have this problem? Our PTO does mostly fundraising type activities.
Thoughts anyone?
Thanks
Shelly
