Posts in community support
Tip 20: Send a fun, uplifting video to your community

As students continue distance learning, they may be feeling out of touch from school faculty and their usual learning environment. Making regular videos to remind students that you appreciate them and their work is a great way to support them through these uncertain times.

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Tip 19: Use FAQs to Support Your K-12 Parents and Save Staff Time

We’re noticing great examples of FAQs going out to students and their families. The question-answer format is easy to absorb and a great way to make sure the most important information gets through. Here are many examples worth a look.

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Tip 17: Send a heartfelt message to unify your community

As it becomes more clear that schools in many states will remain closed until the end of the school year, many have begun to send out kind messages of solidarity and empathy. While still providing updates, these can help provide comfort and peace in uncertain times, if done right.

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Tip 16: Make it easier for parents to get the help they need

More than ever before, parents need help. Parents have a lot of questions. And many don’t know where to go for answers. Here are a couple ideas on how to set up your own help desk.

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Tip 15: Have a great, socially-distant Easter celebration!

As we transition to online learning and practice social distancing amidst COVID-19, it may be challenging to keep up with routines and traditions. Keep spirits high and help make this weekend fun for your community by hosting a virtual Easter event!

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Tip 12: Write your teachers a thank you note

Pick a teacher. Write a note. Be it a postcard, a message through your school’s communication portal, an email, or something else, they’re rockstars right now. Here are example messages to start you off.

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Tip 11: Provide screen-free, learning-rich activities for students to do at home

Consider providing families with some classic, hands-on, “no screens required” activities that enrich learning and expand creativity. Just enough options to have some variety to choose from — but not so much so that it becomes overwhelming — a nice, digestible amount.

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Tip 9: Help families set up daily schedules for remote learning

If families are able to get their students on a schedule, that’s more than half the battle won. It’ll provide structure to give them the momentum to continue with their schoolwork and make remote learning sustainable.

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Tip 8: Set up a school communications schedule

As you adjust to remote learning, think about how to get organized with a communications schedule. This way, your community knows what to expect from you — and if they’d like to look back at information — they can easily find what they are looking for. 

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Tip 7: Host a virtual spirit week

Just because school buildings have closed, doesn’t mean you have to cancel your spirit week plans. Consider implementing a virtual spirit week — even if you weren’t going to have a spirit week to begin with! It’s a great way to keep school spirit up and maintain a sense of community. Many students are missing their classmates, and so seeing pictures of each other engaging in a fun, school-wide event is sure to keep “spirits high.”

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Tip 6: Read a book to your students with the help of technology

This is a great way to continue to engage students in learning and spread some cheer. You can do a live read-aloud with Facebook Live or Instagram Live (open to the public), or by using a conferencing tool like Zoom (private — only those with an access link can join). You can also record your read-through before-hand and upload it so students can watch at any time.

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Tip 3: Keep the community connected by sharing what students and families are up to

Share what others in your school community are doing in their day-to-day lives! Many students, parents, and staff are feeling a bit lonely and socially isolated at this time. Ask people to submit videos, pictures, or perhaps just write out what they have been doing and share these out so people feel more connected. It might also give people ideas on what they can do as well!

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