Fun Ways to Celebrate National PTO and PTA Appreciation Day

Exciting news for all the school parent group volunteers out there: there's an actual appreciation day for PTO and PTA groups! 🥳 National PTO Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on September 26. If you're a PTO leader who's reading this article, THANK YOU...YOU ROCK! Also, we know you're thinking something like, "Silly PTO Today, how can we possibly appreciate ourselves...we're too busy appreciating our teachers and staff, orchestrating fundraisers, planning fun school events, and <insert never ending to-do list here>!"  Well, we're here to let you know it's totally okay for you and your board members to sit back and celebrate everything your group has accomplished so far - big and small - and all the amazing things you plan to do in the months that follow.  

If you're a school principal looking to recognize your parent volunteers on National PTO Appreciation Day, you've come to the right place. Thanking the parent volunteers who work tirelessly to make the magic happen at school goes a long way. See how other schools are celebrating their PTO and PTA groups below. We hope you're inspired to celebrate at your school, too! 

Mountain View PTA shared that their principal asked them to come to a quick mandatory meeting, which actually turned out to be a pretty awesome surprise thank you party for the MVS PTA! Students designed posters and hung them in the hall:

@notyouraverageptamoms Things like this make it all worth it ♥️ #pta #mvspta #ptamoms ♬ Little Things - Adrián Berenguer

Students also wrote handwritten notes thanking the PTA (grab your tissues for this read):

There was also a GIANT card made of posterboard that all the students signed...

...and the PTA members were also gifted treats, gift cards and thank you cards from teachers and staff! How adorable are these? 

Brittany Gefvert, Vice President of Royersford Elementary School PTO in Royersford, PA, shared a touching gift that she received for her time on the PTO. Ahead of the holiday, Brittany's husband asked staff at Royersford Elementary School to sign a large framed "Definition of a Volunteer" poster. Brittany's reaction? "I cried instantly. I stared at it for a long time, reading over everyone's kind words through teary eyes. This is my last year at Royersford Elementary and I keep telling everyone how it feels like a death of some sorts since the school is such a huge part of my life. I never expect recognition for what I put into the PTO, and it seems silly when staff members thank me since everything I do is out of gratitude for them, so this is the sweetest memento I could ever imagine. I highly recommend a gift like this if you're looking to gift something to a long standing board member or volunteer." We couldn't agree more, Brittany!

How you celebrate National PTO and PTA Appreciation Day doesn't have to be expensive, flashy, or complicated. The important thing is you take the time to thank your school's parent group volunteers for their commitment to your community. Even a shout out on your school's social media channels is a great way to shine a light on the important work that they do:

How is your school celebrating National PTO Appreciation Day? Tag PTO Today on social (Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok) and you just might see your group featured here next!

Want to celebrate all the awesome people who make your school community amazing? Get our list of school appreciation days (and ways to celebrate). 

Discover even more trending ideas for your school 👉