Parental involvement in schools and donating prizes for events...

[CocktailQueen]

I am on the PTA of our lower school (Outstanding ofsted; very middle class areas so no overt $£££ problems) and am organising the grand draw at our summer fayre. Sent a letter out in book bags 3 weeks ago asking for donations for grand draw prizes, to be handed in by tomorrow. Guess how many prizes we have, from 370 pupils??

Yep. 4. Bloody hell. Makes you wonder why we bother. The PTA raises about £10,000 per year for the school. Gah.

Anyone else got any bright ideas how we can encourage parents to participate a bit more?? rather than simply criticising the PTA for things it does or doesn't do

We have a non-uniform day when you have to bring in a bottle for the tombola stall too!

Maybe we are at the same school? Is there always one parent who empties all the out of date tins from the back of her cupboard?

Turps anyone?

I used to organise our PTA raffles and always found local pubs quite willing to offer a meal for two. Just dropped in on afternoons when they weren't busy with a letter they could use for their records.

I am not surprised parents are not interested if you just had a fayre at xmas and having another already.2 fayres in a school year is too much!

Our school raised $245,000!! This is how -
Movie night in the gym twice a year. Beer and wine for sale outside the gym for grown ups, pizza slice for sale, sweets and drinks for sale. Cover charge in ($1.00). Everyone comes and everyone loves it. Children watch the film, older ones race about, everyone brings blankets.
Auction once a year, donations include "work for a day in the local newspaper" "work experience for the summer in Joes ice shop" etc. goes really well.
Used book sale once a year. All donations, very successful.
Christmas Fair where local business pay to have a stall and give a % of sales.
Handbag sale - everyone donates one and commits to buying one.
Carnival designed by the oldest class for all the children in the school. The children buy tickets and can bob for apples, throw water at the gym teacher, get taken for a spin on a bike around the yard, face painting etc. Hugely popular and they earned a load of money on that one.
A local (fairly decent) burger joint comes with a truck once a month. Very popular with children and a good earner.
Not rich people btw, just committed to the school.

Our school raised $245,000!! This is how -
Movie night in the gym twice a year. Beer and wine for sale outside the gym for grown ups, pizza slice for sale, sweets and drinks for sale. Cover charge in ($1.00). Everyone comes and everyone loves it. Children watch the film, older ones race about, everyone brings blankets.
Auction once a year, donations include "work for a day in the local newspaper" "work experience for the summer in Joes ice shop" etc. goes really well.
Used book sale once a year. All donations, very successful.
Christmas Fair where local business pay to have a stall and give a % of sales.
Handbag sale - everyone donates one and commits to buying one.
Carnival designed by the oldest class for all the children in the school. The children buy tickets and can bob for apples, throw water at the gym teacher, get taken for a spin on a bike around the yard, face painting etc. Hugely popular and they earned a load of money on that one.
A local (fairly decent) burger joint comes with a truck once a month. Very popular with children and a good earner.
Not rich people btw, just committed to the school.

$245,000, Bratingham?? Really? Some good ideas in there - thanks.

We have always had 2 fayres, xylem8 - they have always both been well supported. All parents are asked to donate for the xmas fayre is chocolate for the choc tombola stall.

Yup. It is our first year at that school and I was irritated and quite stressed by the amount of school stuff. However, when they told us that total last week I was very impressed and will participate more next year. I forgot that they also did a parents night out, dads soccer game and mothers something or other. It is impossible to do all the things they do but it is also impossible not to do something. Hence the success I think. Don't forget that they are American and unashamedly pushy about this sort of thing!!