New Vice-President Of WHAT?!
You know how you leave a meeting thinking, “What have I DONE!”?
Last fall I attended the last Parent Teacher meeting of the year. I wanted to congratulate the people who had done a fabulous job, and I was willing to throw my hat in for a nice simple job. Teacher Appreciation? Back to School Night? Read-A-Thon? Perfect for me.
Instead.
I had to go home and whisper to my husband:
‘Um, I’m the new PTO Vice-President’.
He didn’t seem surprised. After all we’ve been in our neighborhood for 2 years and yes, I’ve helped in my kids’ classrooms during parties and math time and reading time but managed to stay away from any leadership roles.
I guess it’s time. Only, I was imagining a ‘helping’ role… not an IN CHARGE role!
In a few weeks, my kiddos will return to school. This is the second year they will all three officially be IN school more than they’re home. And I’ll be joining them in my own way as I figure out my new job. What needs to be done exactly? How much time do I need to spend? How has it been done in the past? Who do I report to?
There are a few things I’m super passionate about and other things I’d kick out completely if it were up to me. (Good thing it’s not, eh?!)
- First on my list are fundraisers. Hate ‘em. Door to door is seriously not for me. We’re looking into a NON-fundraiser fundraiser. Where we simply ask families to donate a minimum amount per child and if we raise over a certain point, no wrapping paper/cookie dough sales will be needed. One idea we came across was the idea of a “Social,” basically a fundraising party, which is great for building community as well as raising funds.
- Next is getting my school to end the deluge of papers sent home daily. Each of my kids in elementary school receive the same set of fliers/papers/reminders EVERY day? What a waste! Both financially to the school’s paper budget and in green-think to the planet! There has to be a way to send home one set per family. And then wouldn’t it be great if we could get more families to accept a paperless/internet option for newsletters, lunch calendars, and half-day closing reminders?
- Another problem I noticed is the kids have no playground supplies for recess. I asked my 3rd grader last year why she doesn’t play kickball, or jump rope during outdoor time? Her answer: “We don’t have any ropes or big red balls.” How sad is that!? I have big plans to work on a specific funding project just for recess and PE supplies.
- One more biggie for me, is that our school’s drop-off/pick-up scene is a nightmare. It’s chaotic, it’s crowded and it’s NOT safe. There has to be a better way, and I’m sure parents have plenty of ideas.
Here’s to a back to school experience where more parents are involved and the educators are more willing to listen to their suggestions! At next year’s final meeting, I look forward to going home and whispering to my husband: “It was a great year, I loved going back to school with my kids.”
Originally posted as part of VolunteerSpot’s Views on Back to School Series. Please watch the quick video below to learn more about how You can help your school this year and how VolunteerSpot’s free online coordination tool saves time and gets more parents involved.
Plus! I’m excited to share this great contest… for YOUR kids’ Teacher!
Register at VolunteerSpot.com before October 1st, 2010 using promotion code “TeachersSave” for a chance to win $100 in free classroom supplies for the teacher of your choice from ClassWish!
Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.
Good luck! And I am not surprised at all that you walked out the room as the VP – you’re a leader by nature, Carissa. And although my daughter is not yet in school, I thought your to-do list as the VP was great. I’m going to remember that idea about the non-fundraiser fundraiser (ex. social). I anticipate hating door-to-door already…
And your new job – what is it? I’m assuming it’s a combination of the million things you have going on as written about in your previous post?
You are busy busy busy – looking forward to hearing how it all goes
[Reply]
My son’s school just finished up their fundraiser, their one and ONLY fundraiser for the year. I think it was a huge success also. They did a Fun Run http://info.boosterthon.com/index2.php check it out, it was a ton of fun and SO easy to get pledges. You can get pledges per lap or one flat amount for a pledge and it can all be done online, they did their run on Friday and I went and I can tell you the kids had a blast and the people who put it on were great and VERY involved they even had a Pep Rally to kick it all off oh and the kids still earn prizes for their money collected. I heard a teacher say they (Fun Run people) take care of everything. Check it out maybe they have it near you or heck if they don’t you guys can make something up similar on your own.
As for car rider line not sure what you guys do, but we have 2 separate pick up areas K-2 on the side of the school and 3-5 in the front. Both are done a little differently k-2 cars line up in 2 lines (side by side) then there is a teacher who sits inside with kids with a walky talky and one who goes out and call the kids names (parents have a name tag on car dash for her to see) they call kids to a color dot that is on the side walk I think there is about 6 different ones, kid come to color (where a teacher is also standing) then all 12 cars are loaded (with help of teacher) then all 12 cars pull away at once and so on. kids do not go to cars till all 12 cars are in place and the cars do not pull away til all cars are loaded (there is a teacher standing at front of line to tell cars when to go)
bigger kids is about the same- teacher with walky calling to kids inside but there is just no color dots the kids just stand there til cars stop and they go to their car by themselves no teacher helping to load, but they also load about 12 cars at once then all cars pull away at one time once all those kids are loaded a new set of cars pulls in their place. A teacher stands at the front with a stop/slow sign to tell the cars when it is ok to pull away.
does your school have a website? our does and each teacher has their own page where they can list any info they want
wow that was long:) sorry about that but good luck on your newest adventure
[Reply]
I am not sure exactly how they do it, but at my sons’ school only the oldest child gets sent home newsletters and such that are paper. They also send the main school newsletter weekly by email to everyone who opts into digital and most of the teachers like to do a monthly classroom newsletter but also use email for it.
Lastly, each kid has an agenda where the teacher writes notes and I write notes back, so they don’t need separate paper. It’s also for keeping track of assignments and reminders about closures, hot lunch etc.
[Reply]
What do you mean by an agenda? Like a folder/planner that they use all year long??
Thanks so much for these ideas!!
[Reply]
ROFL! That has happened to me before.. walked in to a meeting to just observe and come out ‘part’ of the team!! LOL!
Hope you have a great year!
[Reply]
Good for you Ms. Vice President! Those kinds of things happened to me all the time when my kids were in school. I’d offer to “help” and end up the Troop Leader or the Room Mother or President of something! And I worked full time, ha ha.
That paper thing drove me INSANE! Save the planet already! And door to door sales for kids, hated it.
You are going to be a great asset to the PTO!
Twitter: ladybugsgrama
[Reply]
Your list is great and the school/students are blessed to have you! I have no doubt that many great improvements are ahead for everyone involved.
As for paperwork, our teachers passed out papers and had ‘oldest and only’ kids raise hands for any general information so each family would only get one copy.
[Reply]
You are going to rock that VP role! I couldn’t agree more about despising fundraisers. Yuck. Sounds like you have a fantastic list of things to improve upon. Can’t wait to hear your adventures of VP!
Twitter: lindsaymaddox
[Reply]
I’m so glad that my kids’ school eventually phased out fundraisers. We all hate them! Just tell me what to pay instead!
The moms of my daughter’s Brownie troop is meeting on Sunday and I am already nervous about what job I will be given for the year.
Twitter: Funkidivagirl
[Reply]
OMG I just did the same thing! I volunteered to help my son’s preschool’s website since it really needed upgraded. Well, 124 pages, 2 staff tutorials, and heaven knows how many hours later I’m *almost* done. Oye! At least I know that the school is really grateful and that means so much to me
Is it sick that I hope to be the PTA VP someday?
Twitter: MothersHideaway
[Reply]