School 2 Home Communication Forum eNewsletter
Vol. 1, No. 5 April 2008
Tools You Can Use
Eyes on Bullying: What Can You Do?
It's important to have a sound communications program in place in the event of a crisis at school. It's also equally important to adopt programs that help school leaders create cultures that help prevent crises from occurring.
 
Bully prevention programs, for example, can help alleviate the emotional pain that leads some children to drastic, violent measures. Effective bully prevention programs can also help  change the behaviors of those children who resort to bullying others.
 
The Education Development Center (EDC), has published a new toolkit that provides specific insights, strategies, activities, and resources to address bullying.
 
Download the kit--it's free--at http://www.eyesonbullying.org/.  While there, be sure to register for for one or more of the EDC's free teleseminars on bully prevention programs.
In the Spotlight
Planning for Communication in Crisis: How Superintendents Can Prepare
Thankfully, a majority of schools in the United States are safe places. Still, any school district may, at any time, be touched by crisis -- from natural disasters, such as floods and fires, to threatened or actual violence on school campuses. The best time to determine how to respond to any of these crises is, of course, well before they occur.
 
Therefore, we invite you to join us on Wednesday, April 23, at 1 p.m. EST, to learn how superintendents across the United States prepare for crises. including how to create an effective communication plan.  Read more about the next S2H Virtual Round Table.
 
Sharing The Practitioners' Perspectives
We asked district leaders to describe how they encourage parents of young teens to stay involved in their children's educational lives. Here's a tip from educators in the Bowling Green (Kentucky) School District: Hire a parent involvement coordinator. Read more.
S2H Update
Members Share Their Expertise

On March 20, 2008, the S2H Communication Forum hosted a Virtual Round Table that focused on how to reach the hard-to-reach parents. Here are some strategies shared by three different school districts.

 

Making Wise Use of the Media

Technology can be a tremendous aid to school districts coping with a rising population of students who speak English as a second language. Read more.

 

Reaching Out to Homeless Families

By law, homeless children and youth have educational rights and protections. District leaders in Horry County, South Carolina, have found innovative ways to follow the letter of the law. Read more.

Staffing for Increased Involvement

Reaching hard-to-reach parents can sometimes require district leaders to think about new staff positions designed to deal directly, and exclusively, with parents and family members. Read more.
Crisis Management at School
Finding Better Ways to Communicate
Nothing is as terrifying to parents as learning, via television or radio, that there has been an emergency at their child's school. Recent shootings at colleges and schools have prompted administrators to rely more on technology to keep parents informed -- well before the news reports hit the airwaves. Read more, courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio.
 
Resources
Online Assistance
Give school leaders in your district the tools they need to respond effectively to "everyday crises" as well as to school-based disasters. Here are three good resources:
  • The Practical Guide for Crisis Response in Our Schools is an invaluable resource for administrators, support personnel and faculty. You'll find information about the guide at www.schoolcrisisresponse.com. Order the book online, but before you do so, review some of the content free. Downloadable excerpts of the guide provide practical suggestions for managing crises.
  • In an Anatomy of a Comprehensive School Crisis Management Program, you can review one district's approach to crisis planning. There may be ideas you'll want to adopt for your district.
  • And, from the National School Safety Center, Working Together to Create Safe Schools. In this handout, you'll find ideas on ways to include all stakeholders -- parents, community members, business leaders, students, and so on -- in safety planning.