SCHOOL-COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN JESSICA SEMLER PRINCIPAL

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS WOULD BE HELD WITH PARENTS DURING THE FALL, WINTER, AND SPRING. INFORMAL DISCUSSION TO LISTEN TO ISSUES AND CONCERNS AND GAIN FEEDBACK TO SCHOOL BUILDING AND EDUCATION. MEET WITH NEW STAFF PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. GET TO KNOW YOUR STAFF, AS WELL AS LISTEN TO PROS AND CONS OF THE BUILDING. BUILD LEVEL OF TRUST. MEET WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING HIRED. COMMUNICATE WITH THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY AND BUILD LEVEL OF TRUST.  1. ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS WITH PARENTS, STAFF, AND STAKEHOLDERS

MEET WITH FACULTY AND STAFF, INCLUDING BUS DRIVERS, CROSSING GUARDS, PARA PROFESSIONALS, NURSE, AND SECRETARIES TO BRAINSTORM AND GAIN INPUT TO MAKE CRISIS PLAN. MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. MEET WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY DISPATCH TO GO OVER SCENARIOS AND HAVE THEM HELP MAKE PLAN. TAKE TOUR OF SCHOOL TO MAKE SURE SCHOOL IS SAFE AND SECURE, AND TAKE ACTION IF NEEDED.  2. DEVELOP CRISIS PLAN

SEND MONTHLY NEWSLETTER TO PARENTS AND STAFF: PLACE ON SCHOOL WEBSITE OR MAIL TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE REQUESTED HARD COPY. NEWSLETTER WILL INCLUDE SCHOOL EVENTS, IMPORTANT INFORMATION, STUDENT AND TEACHER RECOGNITION, AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. AN AREA FOR FEEDBACK WILL ALSO BE ENCOURAGE FOR PARENTS TO FILL OUT AND SEND BACK TO THE SCHOOL.  3. MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

A SCHOOL WEBSITE WILL ALLOW PARENTS, STAFF, STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND POTENTIAL FAMILIES TO HAVE 24/7 ACCESS TO INFORMATION. THE WEBSITE CAN INCLUDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION, CONTACT INFORMATION, SCHOOL TIMES, LUNCH MENUS, LINKS TO TEACHER’S WEBSITES, RESOURCES, MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, HEALTH SERVICES, GUIDANCE, AND GRADES. COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE AND UPDATED DAILY.  4. DEVELOP SCHOOL WEBSITE

THE PARENT REPORT CARD IS VOLUNTARY AND WILL ALLOW PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GRADE THE SCHOOL ON THE SCHOOL’S PROGRESS AT THE END OF THE YEAR. SEND HOME IN MAY AND REQUEST IT BE RETURNED THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE. FOR EXAMPLE, PARENTS WILL BE ABLE TO RATE THE SCHOOL’S PERFORMANCE ON CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING, DISCIPLINE, AND ATTITUDE. THIS WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, INCREASE COMMUNICATION, AND MAKE THE SCHOOL BETTER FOR THE FUTURE.  5. DEVELOP PARENT REPORT CARD

CONFERENCES WILL ALLOW THE PARENT TO SHARE THEIR CHILD’S STUDY HABITS, HEALTH, AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT MAY HAVE A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON THEIR SCHOOLWORK. THIS IS ALSO AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH THE TEACHER TO IDENTIFY STRENGTHS AND NEEDS, COORDINATE EFFORTS TO SUPPORT LEARNING, AND STRENGTHEN HOME/SCHOOL CONNECTION.  6. PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: HELD IN THE FALL AND SPRING

OPEN HOUSE IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OFF ALL OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS MADE BY STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DISPLAY STUDENT WORK IN CLASSROOMS, HALLS, AND SCHOOL OFFICE. INVITE FAMILIES, STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND ALUMNI TO VISIT AND TOUR THE SCHOOL. SEND HOME INFORMATION, PLACE ON SCHOOL WEBSITE, AND MAKE ALL CALLS TO REMIND INDIVIDUALS OF THE EVENT.  7. HOLD SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

PERSONALLY MAIL BIRTHDAY, SYMPATHY, THANK YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS CARDS TO STAFF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. COMMUNICATING WITH STAFF ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. BUILDS TRUST WITHIN THE SCHOOL AND SHOWS YOU CARE. STAFF WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS LITTLE ACT OF KINDNESS.  8. SEND CARDS TO STAFF

A BROCHURE IS AN EASY WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITHIN A SCHOOL. THE BROCHURE CAN BE HANDED OUT TO NEW FAMILIES ENTERING YOUR SCHOOL. THIS CAN INCLUDE IMPORTANT SCHOOL INFORMATION AND PROGRAMS YOUR SCHOOL OFFERS. SCHOOL EVENTS SUCH AS KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION, SCIENCE FAIR REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES, OR GRADUATION INFORMATION ARE JUST A FEW BROCHURE EXAMPLES TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS EFFECTIVELY.  9. CREATE SCHOOL BROCHURE

IF I WAS A NEW PRINCIPAL, I WOULD WANT TO START FRESH AND ONE WAY TO SHOW TEACHERS THAT CHANGE CAN BE GOOD IS TO PAINT THE FACULTY ROOM. THIS WOULD GIVE EVERYONE A FRESH START AND SHOW YOUR STAFF THAT THEY ARE A PRIORITY. YOU ARE HERE TO LISTEN, COLLABORATE, AND BUILD TRUST. MAKE THE FACULTY ROOM INVITING, AS WELL AS A PLACE FOR STAFF TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND PROMOTE POSITIVE THOUGHTS.  10. PAINT FACULTY ROOM