Thanks for everyone's suggestions. About advertising - We will have flyers for the parents at school registration in early August. Our kindergarten teachers also host an orientation the night before the first day of schools. They get a great turn out for that so we'll also be able to remind them about the "Boo Hoo Breakfast" the next day. After the parents drop their kids off at their classroom, they will come to the cafeteria for the breakfast. We'll of course have snacks, etc. Many differen people will introduce themselves to the parents and tell a little about thier program. For instance the PE teacher will inform them about PE class and how important it is for everyone to have proper shoes, the computer teacher will tell them what their child will be doing that year in the computer lab, etc. I'm hoping to put together a trivia type game that will teach the parents more about the school and then just as the kids are preparing to be dismissed after their first 2 hour day, the parents will be let go to pick their child up. Makes for a smooth first day for everyone. Of course many parents work and have to miss out, but you can't solve all the problems. With advance notice though, they may be able to take off a few hours that morning. We don't have the problem of morning and afternoon classes because all our classes are full day programs.
During your kindergarten round-up- have a flier about the event and hand it out to the new incoming parents... Then the first day of school post a sign as a reminder by the kindergarten doors-- you can also send a postcard incite out to the new families- the office can give you the addresses-- or add your letter to theirs, (the offices) when they send out who these new kids have as a teacher.
We have the same probelm-- I think you can still offer the same event for both-- but change the afternoon moms to boo hoo brunch of boo hoo lunch--- I idea is to welcome new parents and get them involved in their child's school experience and answer questions they might have... we will offer a morning and an afternoon session-- our afternoon session would be in a smaller room- since the olders children will be using the lunch room to eat.
something to think about.
I love the idea of the Boo Hoo Breakfast but what about if you have half day Kindergarten and do you do something for those parents? We would have too many people at once if we let those parents bring their children. Any ideas?
Many thanks for your replys and ideas! I've been away at a conference so I'm just now checking in. I love the idea too about the pens and pads. Actually I just contacted our high school graphic arts department and they are going to print some pads up for us for free! Someone on the boards got me thinking about questions that the parents might have. I may try to make a jeopardy type game with for example the "answer" is "tennis shoes" and the question would be "what must your child have for p.e. class". Think it would work?
