5 Summer Tips to Start Your PTA/O School Year Strong | Booster

Ahhhh, summer. Those long days, outdoor adventures, and beautiful nights are here. You survived the end-of-year rat race, and now you’re ready for some well-deserved relaxation. So go ahead and put your feet up! But as crucial as it is to have a break, did you know summer can be a great time to get a head start on fundraising for the upcoming year?

In this blog, you’ll learn more about: 

• How to Prepare for the Upcoming School Year
• What Your Volunteers Can Do Over the Summer
• Ways to Keep Parents Involved

Start your summer with a complete break from your PTA/PTO leadership duties to allow yourself time to rest and rejuvenate. Then, when you’re ready, take advantage of the important opportunities summer provides for a jumpstart on the upcoming school year with these five helpful PTA/O tips!

5 Summer PTA/O Tips to Start Your Fundraising School Year Strong

PTA Tip #1: Meet with the Executive Board

Summer is a great time to gather the executive board for an informal meeting to reflect on the past school year and discuss the organization’s goals. This gives you a chance to identify specific needs, necessary changes, and volunteer gaps for the upcoming school year. 

It’s also an excellent time to get together for some fun, team-building activities that help you get to know each other a little better! Have a barbecue, talk about your summer plans, or just relax on the patio together. It’s a nice way to foster an enjoyable, cohesive team atmosphere.

PTA Tip #2: Check in with Administration

Your school administrators can be hard to catch during the school year. However, during the summer, their schedule slows down considerably making it an ideal time for a casual touch-base. 

They’ll likely be planning for the upcoming school year, which gives you the perfect opportunity to ask about their financial needs and goals. Are they hoping to give the playground a facelift or expand technology? This insight will be valuable as you plan your fundraising goals for the year ahead. 

The informal feel of summer also creates a unique space for some relationship-building conversation with your administration. Building a strong connection with your school’s leadership team is key to a successful partnership.

PTA Tip #3: Organize Your “Back to School” Welcome Packet

A little preparation goes a long way! Use this time to pull together the information you will need for your PTA’s “Back to School” welcome packet. Include a calendar of events, important dates, and membership information. 

Assembling welcome packets is an easy task for children, so don’t be afraid to enlist the kids to make it go faster. It’s the perfect activity for a rainy afternoon!

PTA Tip #4: Begin Recruiting Volunteers for Next School Year

During the summer, people are less stressed and more likely to say yes to upcoming school-year commitments. Get a jump on recruiting additional volunteers now to start your year off with a full volunteer team. 

The best way to recruit volunteers over the summer is with a volunteer form you share online. Find out more about a the benefits of a volunteer form here.

PTA Tip #5: Continue to Communicate with Parents

Don’t shut down your communication channels just because school is out. Staying connected with parents and families is essential, even during summer vacation. 

You can use social media and email to check in, publicize volunteer needs, share exciting school news, and give teasers to get people excited about the fun events you have planned for the upcoming school year. Just remember to keep it light and infrequent. Read more social media tips here.

The back-to-school season can be hectic, especially for active volunteers like you. These 5 summer PTA/O tips will ease the transition and lighten the load so you’ll be all set for another successful school year!