Ending the Year with a Bang- How to Get Parents to Your Events

Many of us who work with parents have trouble getting them to show up to the events that we have painstakingly prepared for- resulting in frustration and disinterest in planning for the next event. If you've had this experience, take heart! I am about to share with you some nuggets of wisdom that I recently gleaned from a very well-attended Migrant/Bilingual family night in Mount Vernon. Some of the strategies that were used to draw in the parents were:
1) Kindergarten students from the dual language program at Madison Elementary school performed a couple of culturally appropriate numbers (who's going to miss a chance to see their own little darling skipping around the stage in a duck costume?).
2) Selected migrant students were awarded certificates for academic excellence (you'd better believe those students' parents were there!).
3) Selected migrant parents were given certificates for volunteering throughout the year and for supporting their students at home with their school work (how often do we get recognized for the effort that we put in as parents?).
4) Prizes were raffled off throughout the evening to the families in attendence.
5) There was an activity table for kids to keep them engaged throughout the program.
6) Posole, made by the Parent Advisory Committee parents, was served at the end of the evening and, during dinner, the jazz band played for the families (I have a feeling those parents were there too!).

In all, it was a fun family event that I'm sure the parents will look forward to attending again next year. Well done, Mount Vernon!

Now it's your turn...What has worked for your district to increase parent attendance at events?