It is important to remember the PTA can only function with parent/guardians involvement. It’s vital that we all step up so our children can continue to enjoy the events we put together.
In the past, PTA members had to heavily rely on extended family members, friends and teachers to run events, but with 500+ families now, this is neither realistic nor sustainable. We need less talk, and more hands-on support from the community. We all share responsibility for both successes and challenges, and it’s our children who are affected when we don’t come together. The only reason the PTA members sacrificed their time, energy, and family commitments was for the benefit of all our children. That’s why they chose not to cancel the Halloween Disco, even though we didn’t have enough support.
If you believe the PTA needs to be more inclusive, diverse, provide more resources, do more fundraising campaigns and support to those in need, we encourage you to join the committee, attend meetings, and help implement these values and ideas. We can’t do it all alone as a group of 3 people.
We’ll be sharing our reflections on what didn’t work during the event, along with ideas for solutions. We’d love to hear your contributions as well.
Why did the check-in take so long?
We didn’t have the ideal number of volunteers, and some didn’t notify us that they couldn’t attend.
Many people didn’t have their tickets ready or didn’t know the buyer’s name, which slowed the process.
The QR code reader also became very slow (despite testing it one day before).
How can we avoid this in the future?
We’ll create event subcommittees to ensure better organisation. Details on the November Newsletter.
Ticket delivery will be given more time (2-3 days before the event).
Organising tickets by buyer’s name was a mistake, especially for families with multiple email accounts. Next time, tickets will be organised by class and child’s name.
Why teachers/office didn't deliver the tickets as it has done in the past?
Teachers and Office Team are always kind enough to support us, but if you’ve ever volunteered at the school, you’ll see how overstretched they are. Our school's success is not down to luck—it’s the result of their hard work. With 500+ families at the school, it’s unacceptable that we can’t organise ourselves efficiently, causing unnecessary strain on the system. This also creates a cycle where parents become disconnected from the PTA’s operations and don’t realise the amount of effort that goes on behind the scenes.
Managing events is our responsibility as parents, and it’s essential that we step up. We need your collaboration to ensure smooth operation and successful events, for the benefit of our children and the school community.
Why isn’t the PTA offering the option to buy tickets on the day or accepting cash, and how can we ensure the process is more accessible for everyone?
As our school continues to grow, now with more than 500 students we need to improve our process. Handling cash sales on the day complicates our operations and prevents us from planning effectively. Without knowing numbers in advance, we can’t accurately arrange for the right amount of resources, which impacts the experience for both children and parents.
Managing cash also introduces security and administrative challenges. In a large school like ours, ensuring funds are properly tracked and handled requires a complex process. Using online sales provides transparency and allows us to focus on delivering the event.
For those who may not have access to internet or a smartphone, we encourage the use of free public computers available at the local library. Alternatively, parents/guardians can contact the PTA directly for assistance by phone (as some have already done). However, inclusivity is a shared responsibility. If you know someone in this situation, please lend a hand—help them secure a ticket as you're likely closer and able to act faster. Don’t wait for a small group of volunteers to solve everything. As a community, we are all equally responsible for ensuring that everyone feels included and supported.
By planning in advance and sticking to cashless systems, we can focus on delivering better, smoother events for our growing community. Please share your thoughts and let us know how you will contribute for the future of the PTA and Events.
