If your child's class could have a class newsletter....

[teafortwo]

... what would you want in it?

As part of an improving communications project in my new role as a one of the class rep team we have decided to publish a class newsletter.

Tonight I am supposed to be mindmapping what should go into it... I want to get it right as it is our first project... but I am completely exhausted and can't think straight.

So far I have got - calender of school events and relevent for the age group educational events in the area, letter from teacher, letter from class rep, birthday announcements, ways to help out this oncoming month (e.g things to collect), special offer promotions from local businesses specialising in childhood bits and bobs... and... and.... and.... oooouch... peeerlease HELP me lovely mners if you have any ideas...

keep it short. get it out regularly , get it all parents even those who don't do pick ups themselves.

i want o know what THIS terms topics are, and advance warning on next.
i want to know what the regular things are and how they work - christmas parties, nativity, carnival group etc.

That is REALLY useful UniS! FAB.... (adds those ideas to the list)

I would recommend it going out at the very end of a half term/term.

General intro
Birthdays this term
Special dates this term - trips, parents meetings, any concetts/plays, etc.
Feedback on last terms topic
This coming term's topic plus things to bring in to help
Any special things that have happened re children in the last term - i.e Well done to Sophie who has passed her first Ducklings swimming certificate; etc.

What about format - I feel e-mail might be nice... what do you think?

Hulababy - Thanks - that is really useful!

Two options - email or hard copy. Give parents the option and to supply you with email address if they want it via email.

I have a list of everyone's e-mail and it will include Mums who can't pick up because they are at work... and the paper won't get mysteriously lost near the duck pond... I am feeling e-mailing is the way to go... what do you think?

Hey - Thank you so much for your help. I have put all of it into my new 'Class rep' notebook.

if it comes out at end of term, do try and get it to new parents at teh start of teh next term. its horrid not knowing anything for teh 1st six weeks.

Ooooooh - that has made me think - I think if the publication is released on the first week of each half-term it would be a good aim. As people are more likely to be ready to think about the half term ahead then.

Maybe you need to decide who this is from? Is this a newsletter from the school/teacher to parents or is it by parents for parents? That will shape the content.

Some schools provide a curriculum leaflet at the start of the term or year, saying what the children will be learning in each subject area. Would you want to incorporate something like that (insofar as it fits with the way Milk's school is run)? Do press the school for plenty of notice of events - too many expect you to just know that tomorrow is sports day and your child needs a cerise t-shirt.

Email is good. No more than 2 sides of A4 is good. Colour printing and pictues are good.

"... and your child needs a cerise t-shirt" ROFL!!!!!

I sent the e-mail with all my brilliant ideas your brilliant ideas in last night ready to be discussed at the next meeting.

Thanks a billion!

Oh no, tea? Am I too late?

sorry

Oh no no no far from it! - PLEASE feel free to add comments and ideas Moodlum and I will repeat it word for word and pretend it was my fantastic idea at the next meeting!