Free Month at A Glance Calendar for School Parent Groups (Canva Template)
Our free "Month at a Glance" calendar for PTO/A groups makes it easy for parents to stay in the loop (and on the fridge!). Pair this old-school approach with a few smart practices (like clear volunteer asks) to help cut through the digital noise and keep parents engaged.
Families are drowning in digital reminders, so it's no surprise PTO emails get overlooked. What parents really want? Simplicity. Old school communication is making a comeback and works best for today's parents. That's why at PTO Today, we've created a brand new "Month at a Glance" calendar template for you.
Free Month at a Glance Calendar for PTO and PTA Groups (Canva Template)
Digital Burnout Is Real
Parents now receive an average of four school-related emails per day, adding up to more than 80 emails per month! The flood of notifications chips away at parents' energy and focus. Instead of feeling connected, many families feel scattered and overwhelmed. The result? Missed events, overlooked volunteer opportunities, and parents opting out altogether, not because they don't care, but because it is too much to manage. Rather than be part of the problem, your PTO can be part of the solution. That's where our new "Month at a Glance" templates come in.
The Power of "Month at a Glance"
There's something powerful about a simple, visual calendar parents can post on the fridge or glance at on social media. A one-page, at-a-glance view of upcoming events and opportunities highlights the most important information at a glance. Parents get one simple snapshot of everything they need to know, without having to dig through apps or scroll through their inbox.
Why Parents Love It
Less noise, more clarity: Instead of sifting through a dozen messages, families get one clear overview.
Fridge-ready: Families can stick it on the fridge where everyone (kids included) can see what's coming up.
Social media ready: Easily post on your social channels.
Easy to share: Parents can quickly text or screenshot the graphic to grandparents, babysitters, or carpool buddies.
A memorable visual: A single flyer on the fridge or a graphic in their feed sticks better than scattered reminds.
No more FOMO: Clear dates and deadlines mean no one misses out on a school event or a volunteer opportunity.
Nostalgia factor: A "Month at a Glance" feels refreshingly familiar, like the paper calendars many of us great up with.
Added bonus: When families feel organized, supported, and informed, they're more likely to show up, chip in, and say yes when you need volunteers.
More Ways Your PTO Can Beat Digital Burnout
Your parent group can we the group that makes communication simpler, not more stressful. Along with using the new templates, here are few extra tips:
Send Less, say more: Combine volunteer asks, event reminders, and fundraiser updates into one weekly email instead of three.
Stick to the essentials: Highlight what parents need to know this month.
Be visual: Use calendars, graphics, and bold headings to make info easy to scan.
Be predictable: Send communications on the same day each week so families know when to look for them.
Keep it scannable: Use bullets, bold dates, and links for quick skimming.
Post once, point back: Share the "Mont at a Glance" calendar across platforms (email, social, print) so no matter where families look, they see the same info.
Repeat strategically: A quick reminder is fine, but five in one week is overload.
Use clear language: Say exactly what you need and when.
Be specific: Instead of "we need help," try "we need 2 parents to run the ring toss from 1-2."
Streamline Your Communications with PTO Connect
If your parent group is ready to audit your communications, and improve efficiency, PTO Today Plus members get access to PTO Connect, powered by PTOffice.
This all-in-one communications toolkit includes:
A custom website for your group (the perfect "home base" to share your "Month at a Glance" calendars.
An online calendar to keep families up to date.
An electronic committee notebook to keep leadership organized (and make the transition from one board to the next smoother)
Sign up for a PTO Today Plus membership for only $149 per year, and get instant access to PTO Connect, 8 expert toolkits, and save $20 on Finance Manager.
Parents aren't ignoring your PTO, they're overwhelmed with to many channels and too much noise. By going back to the basics with tools like the "Month at a Glance" template and by using PTO Connect as your streamlined hub, you'll give families the clarity they need and the connection they want. Sometimes the simplest solutions really are the best.
