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What are Programs?

PTAs have an opportunity to advocate for children in all kinds of ways, big and small, in the classroom and on Capitol Hill, and to create a strong community in the process. PTA Programs are events and activities that Local PTA Units can host at their schools to improve educational opportunities for all students. 
 

National PTA (PTA.org) provides engaging, educational, and fun programs that inspire, recognize, and impact all students and their families. Louisiana PTA (LouisianaPTA.org) has contests that provide more opportunities to enhance students’ educational experiences. Local PTA Units can create all kinds of programs that meet the needs of its students and community. When planning a program, remember to be inclusive (flexible hours, translators, etc). When hosting a program, please email your accomplishments, events, and pictures with LAPTA! Some ideas for programs follow.

 

The flyer to the right is from Lake Harbor Middle School PTA which summarizes their events and fundraisers for their families.​

  • Art Adventure Day

  • Attendance Improvement Party

  • Beautification Planting Day

  • Birthday Grams/Monthly Party

  • Boo Hoo Breakfast

  • Book Bingo

  • Book Exchange

  • Book Fair

  • Books-n-Blankets

  • Breakfast with a Buddy

  • Business Sponsors an Event with $ and volunteers

  • Carnival

  • Chili/Gumbo Cook-Offs

  • Christmas Night

  • Christmas Santa Pics

  • Clothes Closet – coats, uniforms, Prom dresses, professional interview outfits

  • Club/Athlete Meals on Gameday

  • Coat Drive

  • Coffee Cart

  • Coffee Truck/Camper - Buy Your Teacher a Coffee

  • Coffee with Counselors

  • Hosting joint events with feeder schools/PTAs

  • Crazy Hat/Sock Day

  • Cultural Arts

  • Decorate school for holidays

  • Donation Closet

  • Donuts with Grown-Ups/Dudes/Dudettes

  • Email Blasts

  • Family Dinner Events (Flyer)

  • Family Game Night

  • Family Picnic Reading Event

  • Field Day

  • Field trip sponsorships

  • Food Drive

  • French Toast with Your Favorites

  • Friday Pantry – food for students with food insecurity

  • Fun Dress Day

  • Fun Friday 

  • Garden Club

  • Grade-Level Days

  • Grandparents Bingo (Ask them to join AND volunteer!)

  • Grandparents Club

  • Greenhouse Growing by Students

  • Homecoming Parade

  • Honor Roll Food Treat

  • Medical Clinic for routine annual check-ups

  • Host a Louisiana Author

  • Hygiene Closet

  • Illustrate-a-Book Tea

  • Internet Awareness

  • Ladies Breakfast Club

  • LEAP Trip

  • Literacy Night

  • Magnets calendar

  • Mardi Gras Parade

  • Mascot Name

  • Math Night

  • Membership Drive

  • Mentor-a-PTA

  • Mindfulness Event

  • Movie Night

  • Movie Night for the students with snacks

  • Newsletter

  • Newsletters and e-mail blasts

  • No Tardy Party

  • Painting with PTA

  • Parent Club

  • Parent Meet & Greet

  • Parent Night

  • Parent Recess

  • Pastries with Parents

  • PBIS Store

  • Pet Adoption Event

  • Petting Zoo

  • Pie the Principal

  • Pizza with Your Peeps

  • Popsicle for PTA

  • PTA App (edlio.com)

  • PTA Social

  • PTA Tailgate

  • Read-It-Again Bookfair

  • Reflections Art Program

  • Room Parents

  • S’Mores and Hot Cocoa Night

  • School Clubs Lego Event

  • School Supplies Donations

  • Skate Night

  • Sock Hop

  • School Board Reps - invite to events; ask to join PTA

  • Spirit Store

  • Splash/Slide Day

  • Staff Birthdays

  • STEAM/STEM Event

  • STEM Build with Dad

  • Student Art Showcase

  • Student Club Grants

  • Student Incentives

  • Student of the Month

  • Student Support

  • Student Talent Show

  • Summer Reading Programs (PTA.org or local library)​

  • Survival Guide for [High School] or Parent Toolkits

  • Swim Night/Safety Presentation

  • Teacher Appreciation at nearby schools without a PTA

  • Teacher Appreciation Week

  • Teacher Door Décor

  • Teacher Grants

  • Teacher Meals

  • Teacher Spirit Cart or Woohoo Wagon

  • Teacher Supplies/Support

  • Teacher Woohoo Wagon Spirit Cart

  • Trunk-or-Treat

  • Tutoring

  • Used Prom Dresses/Suits

  • Used Uniform $1 Sales

  • Welcome Back to School Parade for the staff

  • World Culture Day

Easy National PTA Programs

National PTA Programs provide access to engaging, educational, and fun opportunities that inspire, recognize, and impact all students and their families. The programs by National PTA are grouped into categories: School of Excellence, Reflections, Family Reading Experience, STEM + Families, PTA Connected, Healthy Lifestyles, and Connect for Respect. See below for more information. 

These programs are a great resource when hosting Family Engagement events or student programs. All information and support documentation is included, even how-to videos for STEM experiments! There's no need to create a program from scratch!

School of Excellence

National PTA School of Excellence recognition program opens the lines of communication and critical thinking within school communities to make data-driven decisions that yield positive, long-term results. School of Excellence is committed to supporting and recognizing partnerships between local PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students. Enrollment for the 2024 program will close on October 15, 2024.

2024-26 Winners

Congratulations to the 2024-26 School of Excellence winners who were:

  • Marigny Elementary PTA in Mandeville

  • Captain Shreve High PTSA in Shreveport

  • Fairfield Fundamental Magnet PTA in Shreveport

​​2022-24 Winners

Congratulations to the 2022-24 School of Excellence winners who were:

  • Eden Gardens Fundamental Elementary PTA in Shreveport

  • Fairfield Fundamental Magnet PTA in Shreveport

  • Mandeville Middle PTA in Mandeville

  • Marigny Elementary PTA in Mandeville

Reflections

The Reflections Program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts, which boosts student confidence and success in the arts and in life. This 50+ year old program helps students explore their thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning. This really is a fun PTA activity to offer to your students! See LouisisanaPTA.org/reflections for full details.

Family Reading Experience

National PTA is committed to helping families support their child’s development of literacy skills and encourage a love of reading through access to books, particularly those that reflect the diversity of our world.

Studies show...

  • Just like going for a jog exercises your cardiovascular system, reading regularly improves memory function by giving your brain a good workout.

  • Reading books about different people, places and experiences is critical to healthy child development and should be a priority, particularly in early literacy.

  • A parent’s understanding of each element at play in their child’s school reading life will support their personal growth, and their advocacy can serve the greater student community.

STEM + Families

National PTA's STEM + Families® program delivers access and hands-on exposure to science, technology, engineering and math to engage families and inspire students to pursue career opportunities in STEM fields.

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PTA’s vision is that all students have the family and community support needed to access and pursue STEM opportunities and careers. We want to foster passion for science, technology, engineering, and math through fun activities and by involving families in these experiences together. Our STEM initiative will engage students, families, and communities in opportunities to explore... inspire... empower... and educate... STEM possibilities.

PTA Connected

Parenting in the digital age is complex. PTA Connected strives to help children act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online.

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National PTA has been a partner to parents on digital parenting topics for over 5 years, exploring in-depth the issues that are on the minds of today’s families, and connecting parents with tools, research and supports to make the best decisions for their children.

Healthy Lifestyles

National PTA is committed to improving the overall health and well-being of families across the country because we know living a healthy lifestyle is a key component to our students' ability to thrive.   

The Healthy Lifestyles initiative offers educational resources and engagement opportunities that empower students and families to make better-informed health decisions. The initiative includes the following three pillars: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds, and Healthy Earth. 

Connect for Respect

Connect for Respect is National PTA’s anti-bullying initiative to help students, parents and educators to create school climates full of safe and supportive peer relationships. Research shows that one of the most effective ways to prevent bullying behavior is to create a positive school climate. School climate encompasses everything that contributes to a student’s experience with a school—from the physical building to policies, staff and peer culture. Positive school climates exist in schools where students, families and educators all work collaboratively to build a culture of respect. 

The C4R Toolkit

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Learn More
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