We also started a newsletter last year, published monthy. It primarily served as a communication tool with parents. Talked about upcoming events, budget status, had reviews and pictures of just finished events. We also have a "staff profile" in each issue that has questions and answers on a wide range of topics so people can "get to know them better". We also include a page on "community" and and things listed that are local (food/clothes drives, village picnic, etc). We also have our calendar of events and all officer contact information. And, we bought a digital camera that we use at all the events and try to get a lot of pictures in it. It's usually about 8 pages.
This year, we are putting a teachers corner in it that will allow the teachers to write an article for each month on things that have a communication gap between parents and teachers. We also are having the 5th graders write the reviews, rather than pto people.
We don't have a principle section (the school has a weekly letter sent home from the pricinple already), but do have an article from the pto on bigger picture stuff.
The big thing that was a problem last year is the expense related to printing these. 8 pages (or more) for each student and we have over 600 students get's expensive each month and we had no budget set aside for it. I printed the stuff here at work, but that is costly as well and probably not look well upon if they found out. If anyone knows of a good way to economically print these, please let me know.
Aside from content, I have had a ton of feedback on the newsletter, from parents and staff alike. The staff is really behind it as they have never had anything like it before. And, communication was one of the big problems when I became prez last year so this and the Web site were welomed with open arms by pretty much everyone.
We started our newsletter from scratch also. I found it to be easier that way. We have done a couple of things to include the kids. The one that pops into my mind is at Thanksgiving we asked kids what they were thankful for and put those in the newsletter. We also include students of the month, but will change the way we do this one this year.
we are also thinking of incorporating teacher/staff spotlights and possibly Senior spotlights.
I am using print shop to do ours. I don't use a template I just start from scratch and set it up the way I want. Our front page contains a blog from the principal and then a blog from the PTO. Inside each grade is given a space. The head teacher from each grade submits information on what they are doing in that grade. The back page contains sections for the specials calsses (music, gym, Spanish, Computers, etc..).
Our PTO bought the school a digital camera last year and the principal is constantly taking pictures at every event. I also have a digital camera and can take pictures as well. So each newsletter has about 7-8 pictures in it from events that have gone on. Pictures will get parents to look at it as they will look for pics of their kids.
I do like your idea of poems & drawings! I think that would be a cute addition to a newsletter.
Is there anyone who puts out a school or PTO newsletter that in some way incorporates the students in the school? I am looking for ideas about how to do this and wondered if doing a section on the newsletter with a piece of artwork, poem, or story by a student, etc... would work as a way to get them involved and perhaps make the parents more apt to look at the newsletter. Has anyone tried this or does anyone have any other suggestions on a good way to do this?
I am also curious is anyone knows a of good source for newsletter templates? I have MSF Office with Word & Publisher, but I really don't care for the few built in templates that come with them. I am trying to find something that would be good for an Elementary School. Thanks!!
