Hours 21 - 25, Open House Night

Success!!! Yesterday I took my 14 year old son to school with me to help set up for open house night. Because we went early with the intention of coming home before open house began I was able to thoroughly think through all that I needed to do. I was able to get everything done without the feeling of stress or of the impending deadline rattling my brain. I got the T-shirt sales set up in the cafeteria with Market Day. I set up tables for the cub scouts and girl scouts. I set up the table for Scrip and my Market Day sign pointing folks in the direction of the cafeteria. I set up the PTO information table wiht the display board about the PTO, meeting date cards and magnets, new-parent pamphlets, logo pencils, and Jump In magazine from PTO Today. Other freebies included left over samples from Market Day for the Welcome To Kindergarten day earlier in the week. Because my table was smaller than it needed to be I had to put reminder slips for our welcome back brunch on the table beside me. That table I had set up with the volunteer information, all the sign up sheets for various events, and my Spotlight (which I did have some kids fill out nomination slips - so I'm quite excited about that). There was a downside: Market Day didn't show. What a disappointment. Our coordinator will call them and find out what happened. Plus, not too many parents signed up on the volunteer sheets. Let's hope we get more signed up at our brunch! If you're looking to order freebies, like pencils, don't order with Pencil Factory. I was not happy with communication. I called twice and both times I spoke with a woman who was rude. I can't stand rudeness. At any rate, I felt quite comfortable talking with people and handing out materials - after the first 2 or 3 to get me warmed up. But, - I ache so bad! I mentioned before that I sprained my ankle last week. It's much better but I was just on it way too much yesterday. So, today I have to go in (again I'll bring my oldest - who I've promised a Starbucks Venti and a scone! LOL!) to help clean up and set up the volunteer table for the welcome brunch in the cafeteria. I will definitely make sure Justin does all the heavy lifting! ;) I'm beginning to feel the pressure of having a lot to do and a lot to get done - but I will admit that to a certain degree I like it. Blogging about my experiences is certainly helping to keep a positive outlook and reminds me not to get upset with the little things. I can't wait to post pic's I will submit to PTO Today for a chance to win a $1,000 vacation give-a-way for Family Fun Night! But, I have one more pic to take. Either I'll get that today or on the first day of school at our brunch. I hope we win!

Hours 19 & 20

Today was the last full day I had to complete projects for open house tomorrow evening. But part of not getting overwhelmed and stressed out as a parent volunteer is being able to prioritize AND putting family first. Since my husband works rotating shifts this was his last day off during the kids summer vacation. It was a beautiful day and despite unfinished PTO PREP - we went for a family boat ride out on Lake Winnebago. Could not have asked for better weather or a calmer lake. It was a simple, nearly cost free bit of last minute family togetherness that will, hopefully, have a lasting effect on us all as we settle in for changes and new routines. Once back home, however, everyone was able to relax and do their own thing. Me - yep. Back to the display boards and working in my craft room. But I do find working in my craft room, whatever the task, relaxing. So I finished up the display board for Market Day. Got all my projects organized and brought upstairs. Then I got to clean my craft room. Now, it's ready for me to do some summer scrapbooking. But all is not done. I am still working I getting all the PTO meeting cards cut. Plus I need to go by Sam's to get some dum dums for the kids. But you know, if I don't get by the store, or if I decide putting out the apparel for sale is too taxing, I will forgo it. When this job becomes a hassle or too stressful I need to say 'enough is enough' and go with what I've got. But I feel prepared enough that I think tomorrow will be a success. I can't wait to write about it!

18 Hours

Well, I have spent a lot of time working on the first PTO Newsletter for this school year. My newsletter isn't very professional. It's more fun and a little interactive in hopes that more people will want to read it. I have a section of upcoming events that include PTO/school happenings but also some area wide entertainment. It's followed by a summary section that wraps up discussion at the previous PTO meeting highlighting only the most pertinent points. After that I have a section called Looking Back in which I try to post pictures of events during the previous month. To the side of that I have info on PTO executives and contact information. Below that I have a section called Something Fun. I get to be choosy (which is time-consuming) in finding something to share that can be fun for the whole family. Previously I've shared info about Geocaching, the Bullfrogs (local minor league baseball team), and now - Hazelwood Historic House in downtown Green Bay. Then I have a dedicated Market Day and Scrip blurb box. That is followed by the Spotlight. I hope this takes off. Students, teachers, parents can nominate another student, teacher, or parent to be highlighted in the newsletter. Either I or a member of the student council can draw a name and interview the nominee and take their picture. This info will be included in the newsletter. I thought it would be fun for the kids being selected, encouraging for parents to read, and good for student council members gaining certain skills. Then, after that I have the agenda for the next PTO meeting and the minutes for the last PTO meeting. All in all, I think it's engaging. It's 4 pages but everything is blocked so it doesn't seem like reading a book. I stress about finding enough, or the right material, for it - but I think I've done good so far for this first one. I hope others think so as well.

Hour 16.5, give or take

Last night I worked more on cutting out PTO meeting cards. That's tedious, time-consuming job. Unfortunately, not one I trust my boys to assist with. They can't cut a straight line even with the help of a handy cutting tool. But, more than that - I worked on a Market Day display board. We are going to have the MD rep at Open House and she/he will be set up in the cafeteria. We don't want folks walking by and not stopping in hence - another display board. (LOL! I love making display boards - any bets on how many I will have made by the end of my term????) Anyway, it's not completed yet. I hate leaving a project in the middle. That's not a good trait. It means that, in reality, I'm not very good at multi-tasking. It is almost done and as soon as it is complete I will post a picture. The purppose of the board is to get people to stop in the cafeteria to check out more PTO fun. It is my hope that we will also be selling Hillcrest apparel but if we do - it'll be up to me to see that it's done. Not sure if I want to take on another task for open house night. Ultimately, all I have to do is check our inventory - make sure we have pricing guides left over in the box of stock and info on placing orders. Then, I will need some pins and a discarded display board (we have a few out dated ones) to cover and use a means to display a few examples. Of course, I could get very creative and get a line to hang and use clothes pins to advertise the apparel - actually, that sounds very cute. So, we'll see. Of course, my bum ankle will play a part in how much more I do for open house night or our welcome back brunch. One of my kids (and, of course, none of them will fess-up) left a nerf gun on the step to the garage. I went down, and terribly sprained my ankle. Ugh! The timing couldn't have been worse. But, hopefully it will heal quickly - though sprains can take as long as broken bones to heal in some cases. Wish me luck.

Hours 14 to 15.5

I spent 1 and a half hours organizing volunteer sign-up sheets, printing, transferring names of volunteers to sign-up sheets from online registration, printing, organizing my PTO binder, print - oh, no, I ran out of ink. . . But, I'm creeping upon being totally ready for Open House. I did, also, take a 15 minute call from the Scholastic rep about book fair stuff (man, they start early). And, . . . are you ready for it?. . . I committed to a workshop, and pretty much decided that I will run the book fair in my subsequent years as a parent at the elementary school. (My husband would say I have a sucker tatooed across my forehead.) But, truthfully, if the book fair is the only thing I have to deal with - I think I can swing that. It's not like I intend to give it all up - I do this to be an active part of my child's life while at school. Studies show that those who participate have children who are ultimately more successful in school and thus, life. I just wish I had done this much when my older two boys were in elementary school. I seem to embrace it more knowing this is my last opportunity to be an active participant in at least one of my children's school life. I would like to help at the middle school level - only the opportunities get slim the older the kids get.

Hours 11 thru 13, PTO Display Board

I suppose this display board is a little busy and plain at the same time. Oh well, that's what happens when you use bright colored backgrounds. Black is nice b/c everything is sleek and sharp - but repitively - it's no fun. This is primarily a display board for the purpose of introducing the PTO.

This is a letter I wrote last year for our webpage but I've changed a few things to make it perfect for the PTO information display board.

The welcome back brunch is an annual event on the first day of school. I don't know if you can tell or not but things that change - are only tacked on - not glued down. That way the boards can be used in the future, as is.

This is printed on card stock. Last year I attached a sticky backed magnet. This year I think I'll have 1 inch sticky backed magnets available for the taking. Less work on my part. These are the meeting dates for the year with an inspiration quote by me. :)

This is just the front cover of the new-parent pamphlet I created last year. It looks much nicer in color but we can't print in color at the school. It's not productive to spend my money on color copies, even if I were to be reimbursed.

What do you put in YOUR dough bowl???

I haven't quite decided on a permanent location or what I'm going to put into my long-sought-after dough bowl. But, I guess Pebbles decided for me. Haha!

Me & Sky on the 18 at T-creek

Hours 6 thru 10, roughly

This is one of two display boards for open house. I think it has turned out really nice!

Four hours to make a display board? Well, I had to come up with what information to put on it as well. Some of this is taken from pages I made last year and bits and pieces handed down from pres to pres. But, I did take the time to arrange it all in a manner that I think flows and isn't quite so 'proper' but yet thorough and fun.

Main point I want to get across!

Stressing the current needs - and hoping folks will stop to read, consider, and sign.

I just love my Cricut! Isn't this cute? I came up with it all by myself but I've had a thing for the puzzle concept for a while: "You are a piece of the puzzle and are greatly needed to complete the picture. The PTO works to represent our school and our students. Our PTO is YOU." ~Stacie Bryant Now, cutting out the meeting date cards and folding the pamphlets I copied at the school today will round out the hours I spent on PTO stuff today. But, I will cut myself off in just a little while - because I have a desire to go to the school board meeting tonight. I'm crazy, huh??

Me and Sky

We had just eaten at 1951 West with Mama and Gordie, and Robbie. It was very good! We had a very fun evening.

Jerabek 4-mile run

Tyler didn't train as hard (because training is so much easier and more fun in a group). But, he did manage to get the same run time as last year - 44:++. Regardless of how fast he can run I am very proud of him!

Railroad Museum

One of our favorite places on Earth! The National Railroad Museum in Green Bay. I cannot tell you how many pic's I have of Tyler with that darn shovel. LOL!

Hours 1 thru 5, roughly

Today - PTO work officially got underway. I will choose not to record the non-sequential hours spent thinking about thinking about PTO related business (that's not a typo). There are so many things I must remember for one event lasting 2 hours: Make the spotlight bucket, make the tri-fold display board advertizing and building up the PTO, make sure I have all the volunteer sign-up sheets, making meeting date cards, making the new-parent pamphlet, contacting our rep for Market Day about open house night, contacting our apparel coordinator about selling T-shirts the night of, wondering about table placement, buying paper for copies, and so much more. Not to mention that I have been in contact with the Welcome Back Brunch committee members to get them going. It's kind of like moonlighting. I mean - it all seems so simple. Right? But, who knew it actually takes a lot of time and concentration to plan the littlest of events. Here's one for you: I had a nightmare a few nights back. It was open house night and I was dressed nice, made sure the Market Day rep was set up and good to go. My treasurer was all set in the computer room to help get people set up with Scrip. The girl scout and cub scout leaders were all set up and sitting pretty in their little chairs behind tables full of flyers and forms. Children and parents stood eager at the doors destined to end summer boredom, or for the parents, destined to end the complaining, whining and constantly having their kids underfoot. . . and then I realized - I hadn't set up any of MY stuff! No spotlight bucket I advertised, no display boards, not even a single volunteer sign-up sheet! Ugh! I woke up with my heart racing. LOL! So, today I worked on changing the outcome of that dream. I spent roughly 5 hours working on much of the above mentioned tasks that need to happen in order to pull off a successful - simple open house. Now, somehow or another, I sincerely doubt the teachers go through so much - ummmm. . let's see - anticipation, preparation, stress, or emails (which I now think of like rubber balls bouncing off walls) - for a two hour 'show.' No - I'm sure they go through a lot more in preparation for hours, days, weeks, and months in order to pull off a success in educating my kid, and all others. This is not the sound of me complaining. I am simply gearing up for the road ahead. My goal is to take it easy and not freak out at every event - but the best way to do that is to make sure all the I's have been dotted, and all the T's have been crossed - behind the scenes. So, here goes. Wish me luck!

Sky's 40th Birthday

We usually keep it pretty simple. Just a german chocolate cake, a handmade card, and a nice pair of tumblers to go with the matching decanter I got him for father's day.

Camping at Harbour Village

This was a fun trip. I always like camping because there are so many fun antique shops nearby. I went shopping with Cookie and finally bought a dough bowl! It's something I've been after for two years. Justin got to bring his friend, Aiden, and everyone had a real good time.