How to be a Welcoming School – Part 2
Back to school – are you there yet? Are the teachers just beginning classroom preparations or is that all said and done and the students are now arriving? Either way, we have tips to help you be a welcoming school year round. Last week in Part 1, we discussed the importance of greetings, an intentional first point of contact and welcome back to school events and activities. Let’s dive in to more ways you can shout ‘Welcome’ to students, parents and the community:
- Connections:
- Connections with Students: Set aside time to make meaningful connections with students. Students that have a connection with teachers and staff will feel more valued, which can lead to greater class participation and a greater willingness to be intellectually challenged. A few ways you can facilitate these connections is by having informal “chat sessions”, eating lunch with your students, assignments that allow students to share experiences and interests, sharing your own experiences, dreams and goals.
- Connections with Parents: The best way to build lasting connections with parents is to practice open, frequent communication. It is always better to over communicate than under communicate. Also, how often do you contact parents with good news about their student as opposed to bad news? Make it a priority to communicate the good more often than the bad.
- Community Participation: Don’t sit around and wait for community members to come to your school – invite them in! Hold community informational meetings, welcome community workers to volunteer and speak in your school, and host community activities at your school. Another way to improve community relations is to give back to your community with school sponsored activities. Foster media relations by staying in touch with key media contacts in your community. Let them know what is going on in your school and how national or local news may be affecting your school.
Let us know of any additional ways you plan on being a welcoming school this year. If you are looking to improve the quality and performance of your school, the experts at Charter CFO are always here to guide you to success. Contact us today.