PTA programs at local or AAP centers in elementary school?

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for ideas/suggestions for PTA led programs for AAP centers. They have typically done a Q&A night, but anything else interesting or helpful at other schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for ideas/suggestions for PTA led programs for AAP centers. They have typically done a Q&A night, but anything else interesting or helpful at other schools?

Yes, our center did a play date for new AAP students/families in advance of the school year since many of the families would be coming from other elementary schools in the pyramid. It was a chance for the kids to meet the other AAP students before school started and for parents to meet other parents, teachers, and admin too. I think this is the 4th year they are doing it.

[Anonymous]

DD went to white oaks, a center school. PTA or school organized a new families welcome session I think (both AAP and any new ones period) as an orientation and that was nice.

Aside from that any good center school PTA should be doing the same type of things non-center schools do. The absolute worst thing they could do would be to hold superstar AAP only events.

[Anonymous]

^ ha!
Superstar should say separate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for ideas/suggestions for PTA led programs for AAP centers. They have typically done a Q&A night, but anything else interesting or helpful at other schools?

Yes, our center did a play date for new AAP students/families in advance of the school year since many of the families would be coming from other elementary schools in the pyramid. It was a chance for the kids to meet the other AAP students before school started and for parents to meet other parents, teachers, and admin too. I think this is the 4th year they are doing it.

Please do not restrict an activity like this to AAP families as it will breed resentment. If you want to host a playdate at the school playground, open to all students in the grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD went to white oaks, a center school. PTA or school organized a new families welcome session I think (both AAP and any new ones period) as an orientation and that was nice.

Aside from that any good center school PTA should be doing the same type of things non-center schools do. The absolute worst thing they could do would be to hold superstar AAP only events.

This PP is wise. I don't understand why the OP is singling out PTAs for Centers.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure why the PTA would be any different at a Center than at any other school? Have a back to school picnic/welcome night for new families. Maybe you could have 3rd grade playdates on the playground for kids to make new friends like they do for new kindergarteners?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for ideas/suggestions for PTA led programs for AAP centers. They have typically done a Q&A night, but anything else interesting or helpful at other schools?

Yes, our center did a play date for new AAP students/families in advance of the school year since many of the families would be coming from other elementary schools in the pyramid. It was a chance for the kids to meet the other AAP students before school started and for parents to meet other parents, teachers, and admin too. I think this is the 4th year they are doing it.

WOW. Really? What about all the other 3rd - 6th families at the school? Are they not allowed to mingle with the AAP families? This is the reason that people harbor resentful towards the AAP program, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for ideas/suggestions for PTA led programs for AAP centers. They have typically done a Q&A night, but anything else interesting or helpful at other schools?

Yes, our center did a play date for new AAP students/families in advance of the school year since many of the families would be coming from other elementary schools in the pyramid. It was a chance for the kids to meet the other AAP students before school started and for parents to meet other parents, teachers, and admin too. I think this is the 4th year they are doing it.

WOW. Really? What about all the other 3rd - 6th families at the school? Are they not allowed to mingle with the AAP families? This is the reason that people harbor resentful towards the AAP program, PP.

Oh relax. It’s for the NEW 3-6 families that are switching schools to attend the center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for ideas/suggestions for PTA led programs for AAP centers. They have typically done a Q&A night, but anything else interesting or helpful at other schools?

Yes, our center did a play date for new AAP students/families in advance of the school year since many of the families would be coming from other elementary schools in the pyramid. It was a chance for the kids to meet the other AAP students before school started and for parents to meet other parents, teachers, and admin too. I think this is the 4th year they are doing it.

Please do not restrict an activity like this to AAP families as it will breed resentment. If you want to host a playdate at the school playground, open to all students in the grade.

This. Our Center does entering K playdates and rising 3rd playdates -- rising 3rd is clearly because so many new AAP kids are coming in for 3rd, but all 3rd graders are invited. Not just AAP.

[Anonymous]

I personally think it would be great for the PTA to sponsor more academic/leadership oriented clubs and events … open to all who are interested, but aimed at enriching the academic experience. Language club, entrepreneurship club, community service club etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for ideas/suggestions for PTA led programs for AAP centers. They have typically done a Q&A night, but anything else interesting or helpful at other schools?

Yes, our center did a play date for new AAP students/families in advance of the school year since many of the families would be coming from other elementary schools in the pyramid. It was a chance for the kids to meet the other AAP students before school started and for parents to meet other parents, teachers, and admin too. I think this is the 4th year they are doing it.

Please do not restrict an activity like this to AAP families as it will breed resentment. If you want to host a playdate at the school playground, open to all students in the grade.

This. Our Center does entering K playdates and rising 3rd playdates -- rising 3rd is clearly because so many new AAP kids are coming in for 3rd, but all 3rd graders are invited. Not just AAP.

This sounds great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally think it would be great for the PTA to sponsor more academic/leadership oriented clubs and events … open to all who are interested, but aimed at enriching the academic experience. Language club, entrepreneurship club, community service club etc.

So volunteer to set up and lead one of those clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally think it would be great for the PTA to sponsor more academic/leadership oriented clubs and events … open to all who are interested, but aimed at enriching the academic experience. Language club, entrepreneurship club, community service club etc.

So volunteer to set up and lead one of those clubs.

Oh JFC. got it. Listen, some of us really don’t have time, some of us do. I’m in the former category. It’s okay to express ideas without having to bring them to fruition myself. Perhaps someone who has time will be inspired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally think it would be great for the PTA to sponsor more academic/leadership oriented clubs and events … open to all who are interested, but aimed at enriching the academic experience. Language club, entrepreneurship club, community service club etc.

So volunteer to set up and lead one of those clubs.

Oh JFC. got it. Listen, some of us really don’t have time, some of us do. I’m in the former category. It’s okay to express ideas without having to bring them to fruition myself. Perhaps someone who has time will be inspired.

Oh please. If they had the time or the interest, they would have done it already. Clearly they don't, but you do. So do it. I don't have time to lead a girl scout troop but my kid really, really wanted to do it, so I did for her. I made the time. Heck, it might have helped me get a job (a great thing to talk to people about in interviews).