Just for Fun Archive

  • Date Book: Valentine's Day

    Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) is a good time to show some love to everyone in your school community. Consider trying one of these popular activities.

  • Murder Mystery Novel Investigates PTA Meeting

    Since we noted a trend in novels centered on the school parent group world in the August 2011 issue of PTO Today magazine, several more novels have crossed our desk. In I Murdered the PTA, by Wendy Dager, a mom is falsely accused of planting a bomb at a PTA meeting, then becomes a target for the real killer.

  • My Tip of the Week: Happy Valentine's Day

    Oh, man, only once every few years does my Tuesday tip fall exactly on Valentine's Day. As a guy writing to a mostly female audience, the pressure is immense.

  • PTO, Students Love it When Principals Pay Up on Their Bets

  • The PTA Rap Strikes a Chord with PTO and PTA Community

    Have you seen the “Shake You Down, The PTA Rap,” a hilarious video that parodies the plight of parent groups? Well, it could be the start of something big.

  • Date Book: Pi Day

    Have fun with math and celebrate this famous number each spring!

  • Date Book: Music in Our Schools Month

    Join schools across the country in observing Music in Our Schools Month in March. Here are a few ways to celebrate the occasion.

  • The Real Housewives of Your PTO?

    “Do you believe that parent volunteers have the power to make a positive difference in the life of the children in your community? Is your PTO or parent group made up of colorful, opinionated characters that aren’t afraid to confront issues head on – even if it causes conflict within the group? Does it feel as though your organization is frequently struggling to find a middle ground on day-to-day issues, even though both sides feel they have the group’s best interests at heart? Would your group do whatever it takes to advocate for the well-being of your kids?”

  • My Tip of the Week: A Surprising Point of View

    Simple note this week as we move into August. I've written more than 70 columns for PTO Today magazine these past 12 years. Here are my 3 favorites, where I have a point of view that may surprise you.

  • My Tip of the Week: Why We Volunteer

    On behalf of all of us at PTO Today, please accept our warmest holiday wishes and thanks for all you do year-round. May these next weeks afford you all the family time that you so richly deserve (and that you sacrifice so often to do your school volunteer work).

  • Update Your PTO Today Look

    If you have been in the PTO Today community lately you may have noticed that some members have been sporting a new look! That's because we have new "profile avatars" available. To give your PTO Today community persona a makeover, log in and go to your profile page.

  • Date Book: 100th Day of School

    Work with teachers to celebrate learning and make the 100th day of school a special occasion for students.

  • My Tip of the Week: No Tip, Just Thanks

    Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We spend a ton of time here at PTO Today talking about how PTO officers can thank their volunteers and appreciate their teachers. This week, we'd like to take some of that time and simply thank you for all you do for your school and the students and families.

  • One of Us

    Sometimes we take for granted just how tough (and important) a job it is to do this school parent group leader thing.  Makes it even nicer when a paper reminds us with a glowing profile of a rather typical leader.  Passionate. Generous. Accomplished.  Yup -- that covers it pretty well.

  • Ahhh.. The (not so) Joys of PTO Volunteering

    Ran across this mom's blog and couldn't help but laugh. Talented writer who really captures a day many of us have also had. How many of us can commiserate with these frustrations that sometimes, regrettably go along with school volunteering?

  • LAUSD needs a PTA Mom

    Can't agree more (except for one quibble below) with the spirit of this column form the LA Times -- all of our bureaucracies could use a good dose of the typical PTO or PTA leader "get it done" mentality

  • New Jersey PTO Expo

    Every year we talk about the excitement and energy at our PTO expos. Of course when you put hundreds of parent group leaders in a room full of ideas and information great things are bound to happen. I sure had fun at our New Jersey show. And from the looks of it, so did these 80 folks from the Newark school district.

  • Everything a Mom Says in 24 Hours

    This video is making the rounds over email and is so darn funny we just had to post it up here in case you haven't seen it yet. In just under 3 minutes, Anita Renfroe sums up everything a mother says in a 24 hour period. So on the mark and really good fun, check it out

  • Pamela Anderson, PTA President?

    Just for fun, here's an item from the Hollywood gossip mill about the Baywatch star stopping traffic at her children's school.

  • Monica Geller Bing and the PTA

    Ever wonder what the gang from "Friends" might be doing now? Courteney Cox imagines that her very Type A character Monica took over the PTA after moving to the suburbs with Chandler and the kids.
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