Burnhamthorpe’s Council thanks PDSB for setting this up and giving us the opportunity to guest blog. Thought we’d briefly share our Movie Night experience with everyone. On a cool Thursday evening early in November our Council screened Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs at a Movie Night held in our gym and drew approximately 250 attendees. Armed with blankets and comfy clothes, students of all ages came with their families to hang out and catch a film with their friends. We had some snacks and a popcorn popping machine there for an authentic movie experience. Sure it brought in a bit of funds but our real goal was to foster a family environment at the school and an association with fun beyond the classroom. When measured against this yardstick it was a great success!
Incidentally, we used the opportunity to promote our Terracycle Drink Pouch Brigade recycling program currently running in the classrooms. And in case you’re wondering, this was one of our 10 special Food & Beverage Policy exemption days. Despite its nutritious look and taste, somehow buttery movie popcorn doesn’t quite make the bar when it comes to healthiness.
Has anyone else tried a Movie Night and if so, how did it go?
Incidentally, we used the opportunity to promote our Terracycle Drink Pouch Brigade recycling program currently running in the classrooms. And in case you’re wondering, this was one of our 10 special Food & Beverage Policy exemption days. Despite its nutritious look and taste, somehow buttery movie popcorn doesn’t quite make the bar when it comes to healthiness.
Has anyone else tried a Movie Night and if so, how did it go?
Submitted by: BURNHAMTHORPE PS COUNCIL
Barondale PS also uses Movie Nights to encourage family involvement in school, raise funds, and promote school initiatives.
ReplyDeleteLast year Barondale had 3 movie nights screening The Chipmunks, Toy Story 3, and Tangled. We have had 1 movie night so far this year screening Rio. All have been very successful from the point of view of getting families not so familiar with the school involved. Our gym has been filled to capacity each time.
We raise only a couple hundred dollars each evening from concessions and raffles for the screen copy of the movie or movie related book,and preferential seating (a sofa borrowed from one of the support rooms with popcorn and drinks for up to 4 included).
We purchase the party bags of popcorn from Kernels. Each party bag fills approx 50 share bags which Kernels provides. We pickup our order in the morning, and have grade 5 volunteers help fill the share bags during recess the day of the event. The profit on the popcorn is quite good.
We offer other less profitable concessions as well. We are looking into offering pizza slices for our next event as some parents find time tight between work and Movie Night. Using the same provider as our Friday lunches, at least this item will comply with the new Food Guidelines.
Each Movie Night we promote a choosen initiative in the school, and personally invite parents to the next opportunity to visit the school (an assembly, open house, or council meeting). Promotion is via our School Council Board in the lobby and via brief announcements made during raffle draws before the movie and during intermission.
We have had only positive feedback from parents and students.