Giving Back - Parent Teacher Organization

My daughter's elementary school has a new principal this year. The new principal wanted to establish a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), so the school now has a brand new PTO. There has not been a PTO or PTA in place at the school for over 7 years, so we are essentially starting fresh.

I have never been involved in a PTO. My involvement with the school system has been non-existent since I graduated many, many years ago. Planning vacations with the masses on spring break and coordinating time off from work with school off days has not been anything we have done. My husband and I planned vacations to stay as far away from spring break as possible and took vacations in early fall vs. late summer after all the kids returned back to school.

So, why the PTO now? My daughter is in Kindergarten and is absolutely loving every day. This is the school where my daughter will spend a great part of her days.This is where she will be influenced and where she will learn. This is the principal who will provide leadership to her school and these are the  teachers who she will learn from. These are the parents of the children she will play beside. This is my way of giving back.

So, here we are. I am the Vice President and as such, the fundraising committee falls to me. As a PTO,  we would like to find a way to provide the funding the school needs while, as parents, not feel like we are forever being asked to purchase, donate or fund. I am also the back-up Treasurer and you should have seen the look on the Treasurer's face when I told him that I balance my checkbook to the nearest $10.00, or so. It was priceless!

If you are a parent, an educator, a PTO member, or a student and have new ideas on how we can raise funds and have fun at the elementary level, I'd love to hear from you!