I like the idea of having notepads and pens available-- I'm going to look into having packets made that made personalized notebooks and pens inside as well as a magnet of all the pto meeting dates and times. I also like the idea of having a few teachers available-- maybe the principal available to answer new questions-- since these parents will have not seen her since their kindergarten round-up 2 months before-- and now that the kids are at the school, they may have new questions for her.- Also love the idea of hugs and kisses... maybe these could be favors on a placemat... You've got me thinking now...
We called it BooHoo/YaHoo and played up the "Tears of Sadness, Cheers of Joy" theme - some parents are "happy" to send their kids off to school in the fall. We used pop-up tissue boxes and a cheerleader pom-pom on each table as a centerpiece. It is a great time to "recruit" new parents for the PTO. We also had the school counselor available. Pass out a flyer with some basic FAQ on it that lots of new parents don't know - like "Can I bring my child McDonalds for lunch?" also, and tidbits of advice like "Start thinking now about a costume for our multi-cultural day in the spring" and the like. Those kinds of things are often not addressed in the "official" stuff that the school hands out. Have some notepads and pens available so new parents can exchange numbers. Have some of the "older" parents wear a "Ask Me" tag. We sprinkled Hershey's Hugs and Kisses on the tables also, sending each parent home with a hug and kiss from thier child's school. Good luck.
Thank you - I was able this morning to print off the "Boo Hoo/Yeehaw" breakfast flyer. Looks good. Besides refreshments, tissues, etc. what else have you done with the parents. I'm thinking about having the "special" teachers (art, pe, computer, music, Title One, etc) anyone that may be free that morning to give a 3 minute talk about thier class. This way the parents can put a face with their name. Of course the principals would say a brief word as well. I'm always up in the air about having door prizes. What, if anything, did you send the parents home with?
Tim, What happens when you click on the link that is posted here, you go to the overview look of the Boo Hoo Breakfast, then when you click the download button, it goes to a home page-- not the Boo Hoo flier
OK, figured out that you can't use the link anymore--
Click on file exchange at the top of the page... go under events-- and on the 2nd page there is the Boo Hoo Breakfast flier-- it is a word file, so you have to have word to print it off, Take Care.
