PTA+ New school year resolutions

Take stock

Do you have an overflowing PTA shed or storage cupboard that you’re too scared to open in case the contents fall out and bury you alive? If so, now’s the time to be brave! Get it all cleared out, put up some shelves, organise everything into labelled compartments and write an inventory of your stock. You’ll be amazed how much useful stuff has just been sitting there gathering dust.

Get with the times

We’re approaching the second quarter of the 21st century, and it’s time to start incorporating technology into your fundraising. Whether you need to collect donations, sell tickets or communicate with parents and supporters, these tools can save you time. They can also help you respond quickly, for example, when there’s a last-minute change of plan or a sudden need for extra volunteers. You never know when an unexpected situation – like a sudden hurricane threatening your summer fete, or food poisoning impacting the cake sale team – might arise!

Start that newsletter

A newsletter is a great way to remind parents about the fundraisers and events you have coming up, but it’s also a perfect opportunity to demonstrate why they should fork out their hard-earned cash to the PTA. If you can, ask a parent who’s a journalist or in PR to write it, and a graphic designer to do the layout, so it looks appealing and communicates the information clearly and concisely (so people will actually read it).

Commit to the sub-committees

If the constant ping of WhatsApp notifications you don’t need to read feels as if countless tiny hammers are chipping away at your brain, it’s time to establish some sub-committees. Creating separate committees for specific PTA activities or events – such as one for grant applications, one for second-hand uniform sales, and another for organising the Christmas fair – can greatly reduce the chatter in your main group, as well as focusing people’s time and energy on the things they’re good at. Encourage team members with specific roles to set up and manage their sub-committees so that the chair doesn’t have to handle everything alone.

Drive recruitment

Use the enthusiasm of a new school year to your advantage and ask parents if they’ll make a ‘new year’ resolution to help the PTA. Set a series of pledges, ranging from joining the committee to volunteering for just one hour a month to sell pre-loved uniform. Send a flyer home in the children’s bookbags with tick boxes for parents to choose their preferred pledge, plus an option to make a donation instead.