We also see a decline in participation in May. For parents, it's just a crazy time. Our school year ends about the 3rd week of May and everyone seems to be cramming in last minute activities.

We had our big Spring Fling event the first week of May a couple years ago. I don't think we'll do that again. Attendance wasn't really down, but the timing and the added level of stress showed us it's better to leave May alone.

If it were a smaller, routine event (i.e., monthly), maybe that would be fine. But we try to be careful about adding things outside school hours.

olfpso...Im not sure about PTO boarders events in May but we also have a problem at our school with May/June events. I think because being in upstate New York with all the snow we get, once it gets nice people really dont want to be at school. May is also when softball, little league, starts as well as the beginning of year end dance recitals. We try to stay away from events in those months! Infact they are the only two months that we dont have a family fun night!

PTOboarder - Do you know why your May event was not well attended? Time of year? First event was not what people had expected? We have a Free Friday Family Fun Night each month, and we're thinking about a Game Night. Have you spoken to parents to know why yet?

We offered 2 game nights last year. The first one in January was a great success the second in May had much less attendance.

Each of the committee members brought 2-3 games to share (labeled) and then we encouraged the parents/students to bring games to share as well.

PTO offered free popcorn (we happen to have a popcorn machine in our staff lounge), apple juice and water. We asked parents/students to provide one snack to share.

It was a alot of fun and encouraged folks to get out and get together FREE!

We have never done a game night...maybe this year! We did a family craft night last year, it was awesome! With craft night we had two parents per station, so you could do that with a game night.I would personally have no problem with our group buying games if we did this, i know we would use them again! I know some schools families bring their own but i wonder how you keep track of them. Anyone? As far as your question about advertising...we try to start like a month and a half earlier. Our school newsletter goes out every other week so we always have a section in there with upcoming events. We also will announce it that week on the morning announcements, as well as we send home our minutes that show what we are planning. Our principal sends out a year calendar that also list all of our events for the year, we may not know what exactly we are doing so it might say Family Fun Night. The week before any event we send home a full page flyer on bright paper! We advertise ALOT but we have seen great growth in our events. One other thing that we really try to do is have either our fundraiser pickups on the same night, or do our family nights on conference nights! This years calendar has one or the other going on for 6 of our 8 events!

I have neer done a game night - but last year I was Activities Director at our elementary school. You said your school wanted you to do more so activity nights so I thought I would share what was successful for us.
Near Halloween time - I did a Pumpkin Decorating Night. We supplied pumpkins, paint, brushes, etc. free of charge. If families wanted to carve they brought in carving kits (no knives).
I did a simple punch and cookies. Everyone loved it.
In December - I did an Ornament Night. Families ordered a head of time and paid 50 cents for each ornament they wanted to make - I ordered in buk from Oriental Trading. We had different desserts and punches. I had Santa come and pass out candy canes and a local barber shop quartet came and sang carols. I also had three different door prizes. Each a family activity prize - one was a gingerbread house, another was a nice monopoly set.
These both worked out great - people raved about them all year long. Hopefully this was helpful information!!! [img]redface.gif[/img] )