A Letter to Chicago Elementary & Middle School PTA/PTO Committees

Dear PTA/PTO,

First, thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to read this page. Most people just look at the main pages to decide. But since you’re here, it means you are going the extra mile to ensure you’ve made the right school assembly program choice.

Because if you’re on the PTA or PTO, your group is likely footing the bill for my school assembly program.

I’m a PTA dad at my kids’ schools, too. Those of us on the PTA/PTO know how important it is to find the right services and products to spend our hard-earned funds on. And that’s why I wrote this note to you.

Educational school assemblies balanced with fun

The chief concern many PTA/PTO committees have is simple: “Is this assembly program worth spending our funds to host?”

The answer to that question depends on how the program handles a balancing act: a balancing act between how much fun the program is and how educational the program is.

Think of those two ideals on opposite ends of a teeter-totter. The right school assembly is perfectly balanced. The program has the right mix of fun for the kids. But the program keeps its sights squarely on education.

Since your school’s students are being pulled out of classes, there have to be messages or lessons presented throughout the program. Those lessons must be easy to understand and remember. But the program needs fun, too.

If the school assembly presenter stands in front of the kids and just drones on, you know what happens. The kids tune everything out. They lose interest and pretty soon the students find other things to occupy their attention.

So education is important. But how the messages are presented is equally important. Especially with hundreds of kids in a single audience.

That’s my expertise: balancing entertainment with important messages. I mix in just enough magic, humor and interaction to keep the students compelled from start to finish, without smothering the educational content. Your teachers and students will be thrilled.

Why I’m the easiest-to-work-with presenter your school will host this year

Another thing you might be wondering about? Logistics. Suppose the PTA/PTO hires an assembly presenter, and they turn out to be a logistical nightmare. They have a technical rider; maybe they want a jar of just the blue M&Ms. The school winds up having to handle all of this, and it reflects badly on the PTA/PTO. But don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.

I’ve designed my school assemblies to fit anywhere. I can perform in your school’s cafeteria, gym, multi-purpose room, or auditorium. And my programs are set up fast, too. I arrive at your school about 30 minutes before showtime. My entire show is set up in under 15 minutes, usually closer to 10.

After the show, I’m even faster. I can pack up my equipment in about five minutes. So if a lunch period or gym class is starting immediately after my performance, no problem. I can turn the room over faster than any other school assembly around.

I’m a PTA parent, too

I pack lunches. I drop off and pick up on days I’m not doing assemblies. I coach little league and chaperone field trips. I’m involved in my kids’ PTAs and have personally raised thousands of dollars a year.

I’m like you. If you’re reading this, you’re doing your best for your children’s school, just like I’m doing for mine.

I build my programs from the perspective of, “What would MY kids love?” What’s an assembly hook that would get my own children to buy in, and what useful educational enrichment would reach them from this hook?

That’s a HUGE part of why “Engineering the Impossible” is so good. I made it for my kids. The twin hooks of “You’re going to see how magic tricks work” and “If you pay attention, you won’t get fooled in the future” are IRRESISTIBLE for children, and the subsequent enrichment fits that hook like a glove. They’ll learn not just about transistors, electromagnets, and powers of two, but how STEM holds untold founts of information that’s useful in fun and unpredictable ways. I built the show to make my own children hungry to devour lessons in math and science class, and your students will come away from the assembly with that same hunger.

A fit for any school in the Chicago area

Finally, while I’ve tried to address the most common concerns PTA/PTO committees have, there’s one thing I don’t know. Is your school a K–5 school? Or K–8? Many school assembly performers don’t offer effective middle school assemblies.

However, I love performing in middle schools. I’m able to connect with them on their level, give more details about the lessons, and more. I can’t tell you how often, as I’m leaving, a principal will tell me they’ve never seen the eighth graders so captivated by anything. Almost as often as they tell me they’ve never seen the kindergarteners so captivated by anything! Primary, elementary, or middle school assemblies, it doesn’t matter. I’ll hold your students’ attention from start to finish.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to read this. If you have a question I haven’t addressed, or if you want more information to share with your committee, fill out the form below, email me at scott@scottgreenmagic.com, or call 773-91-MAGIC (773-916-2442).

Scott