Our Back to School BBQ was a wonderful way to welcome families back and start the school year with a strong sense of community. I partnered with the school PAC to help organize the event and coordinate volunteers, and we intentionally kept things simple and relaxed so families could come, enjoy some food, and spend time connecting with one another.
We served hot dogs and veggie dogs, and were very grateful to our local grocery store for providing generous pricing on the food. Their support meant that our grant was able to cover the full cost of the BBQ, allowing us to offer the event at no cost to families. We ended up serving more than 300 hot dogs and veggie dogs — a great indication of just how many families came out!
The school brought out tents and lawn games, which helped create a fun and welcoming atmosphere. Kids could play while parents and caregivers had a chance to visit, catch up, and meet other families. The school also decided to hold its Meet the Teacher night at the same time, which ended up being a great addition. Families could visit classrooms and meet teachers while also enjoying the BBQ and spending time together outside.
The turnout was fantastic, and the evening had a really positive community feel. We heard wonderful feedback from both families and school staff, who appreciated having an informal opportunity to connect at the beginning of the year. It was especially nice to see how something as simple as sharing a meal created an easy and welcoming way for people to come together.
Overall, the event was a great success. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with both the school and families saying they would love to see the BBQ happen again next year. It felt like a simple but meaningful way to kick off the school year and strengthen connections within our school community.
