Parent Organization

Years ago I created a POPS (Parents of Publications Students) program for my staffs.  Parents would sign up and bring brownies and pizza on deadline night or help chaperone trips.  It was a great way for those PTA moms of the past to feel as if they were still contributing to their teenagers lives.

Now, that POPS organization has developed into a series of email contacts.  We still do snacks on deadline night, but with one email I can ask a parent to secure a donation (one hooked us up with a TV to raffle off) or ask a parent to pick up t-shirts for us when no one could meet the shirt guy.

Open House or Parent Teacher Night are perfect opportunities to secure email addresses and provide a sign up sheet for parent helpers.

If you don't have a parent support group for your staff, get one now.  I use mine as professional development experience.  Our state requires a certain number of parent involvement hours per year, so this is a great way to successfully reach out to parents while fulfilling a state department requirement as well.

Now, we also have FOPS (Friends of Publications Students).  These are the kids who always hang out in your room, but aren't in your class.  They love to be included.  Now my FOPS have a place, too.