You know what time it is…pumpkin spice latte season. Even more importantly, it’s back-to-school time all around the state. Some of you have been back at it for a week or more, and some are starting soon. Either way, writing an effective back-to-school email newsletter is crucial for principals to communicate important information to teachers, parents, and students. Start the year on the right foot by creating a great culture with clear and helpful communication with your school community.

What to Include?

Do you need more content ideas? Definetly take a look at using ChatGPT or another generative AI tool to get you started, but make sure it’s your voice and language throughout. Here are some tips and ideas for creating an engaging and informative newsletter.

Introductions

Start with a Warm Greeting: Begin the newsletter with a friendly and welcoming introduction in your style and tone of voice! What are you excited about this year? Welcome back your returning families and give a special greeting to all the new ones.

Mention Key Dates and Events: Provide an overview of important dates, such as the first day of school, orientation sessions, parent-teacher meetings, and any upcoming events or activities. This helps stakeholders plan ahead and ensures they don’t miss important happenings.

Highlight & Celebrate

Share Important Policies and Procedures: Inform parents and teachers about any changes or updates to school policies, procedures, or guidelines. This might include information on health and safety protocols, transportation procedures, school hours, or any new initiatives. Be concise and clear, and provide any necessary instructions or resources.

Introduce New Staff Members: If there are new staff members joining the school community, introduce them in the newsletter. Include their names, positions, and a brief introduction. This helps foster a sense of familiarity and connection within the school community.

Highlight Academic Programs and Goals: Share information about any new academic programs, initiatives, or curriculum changes that will enhance the learning experience. Explain the objectives and benefits of these programs and encourage parent and teacher involvement to support student success.

Celebrate Achievements: Recognize and celebrate past achievements of students, teachers, or the school as a whole. This could include highlighting exceptional student performances, awards, or successful initiatives. Celebrating accomplishments helps build a positive and inclusive school culture.

Supports, Resources, and Engagement Opportunities

Communicate Support Services: Inform parents and teachers about the support services available within the school, such as counseling, special education resources, or extracurricular activities. Emphasize the importance of collaboration between home and school to ensure students receive the support they need.

Provide Parental Involvement Opportunities: Encourage parental involvement by suggesting various ways parents can engage with the school community. This might include volunteering, participating in committees, attending workshops or events, or joining the parent-teacher association.

Include Resources and Helpful Links: Provide links or attachments to relevant resources, such as school calendars, supply lists, academic resources, or parent guides. This makes it easier for stakeholders to access important information and resources.

Wrapping Up

Closing Remarks and Contact Information: End the newsletter positively, thanking parents and teachers for their ongoing support. Provide contact information for the school leadership and relevant staff members, encouraging open communication and feedback. Remind your audience one last time how to follow along with all of your communications channels.

Before You Post: Remember to proofread the newsletter carefully before sending it. Tailor the content to your specific school community and keep the tone positive, informative, and inclusive. Make sure all the links, emails, and phone numbers are correct.

Final Thoughts

Is that too much info to cram into one newsletter? For example, maybe you have a lot of staff changes, or a big policy update that requires a lot of explanation. Use short snippets and direct people to a webpage with more information (it’s the bite-snack-meal approach to communication…give everyone a little taste, and if they’re hungry, let them know where to find more).

Another approach would be to let your audience know or tease what’s coming in next week’s newsletter. That’s another great bite-snack-meal approach. For example, you could say something like, “We’ve got a bunch of new ways for parents to get involved this year.” And if you have a link with more details, or someone to contact for more information, then certainly share that out. Maybe the next newsletter goes into more depth and becomes the focus of the next newsletter.

We all live in a world of information overload and are inundated with communication. That means it’s easy to miss something, so spreading your message across all of your platforms, and layering and repeating communication is not only ok, but encouraged. School leaders have so much on your plates right now, but making communication a priority will help build culture, relationships, and trust; and, poor communication creates more work!