How Frequently Should a Preschool Newsletter Be Sent Out?

Preschool parents constantly crave information about their child and school happenings. One of the best ways to provide information is through a regular preschool newsletter. Different programs will have different requirements for the frequency with which teachers are to publish or to submit.

Quarterly Newsletters

Often a school may choose to put something out quarterly, dedicated to happenings in the school. Information may include fundraising goals, upcoming events, and other schoolwide news. Individual classrooms can be featured. Teachers can have a chance to write about philosophy, education, and child development. Topics can also vary due to the size of the program and whether it is part of a school that goes through higher grades.

An advantage of this format is that it is full of comprehensive information. As a school-produced newsletter, there is a good sense of community. The disadvantage is the length between issues. Also, an overabundance of information can be lost on parents who want to quickly read through information. It is best to supplement these quarterly newsletters with shorter blurbs on a more regular basis.

Monthly Newsletters

Many classrooms elect to send out a monthly newsletter. This recaps the top events from the past month and alerts parents as to what is coming up in the following month. Include a monthly calendar of events to help parents schedule. Share favorite activities from the past thematic unit of study and ask parents for help in an upcoming unit. Celebrate births and new arrivals as well as birthdays.

Parents like to have an entire month at a glance so that they can plan for events accordingly. It is easy to set yourself up with the goal of sending it out once a month. Take care to not inundate parents with a lot of information.

Weekly Newsletters

Some require preschool newsletters to go out on a weekly basis. Again, tackle those weekly studies and upcoming events. Information can be regularly repeated, such as for upcoming events. More frequent publishing means the notes can be shorter. A weekly newsletter also allows you to tweak information and address needs as they arise.

Weekly newsletters can be time-consuming until you get into the habit and know what you want to include. At times it is difficult to find enough information to share to make it worthwhile. Consider having each week focus on a different theme. One week include parenting tips. Another week feature recommended books for parents and children. This way it is like a monthly newsletter, but broken up into smaller readable tidbits.

Daily Notes

Daily notes are almost impossible to successfully send home when you have a full preschool class. If it is a half-day program, you are more likely to be busy the entire session observing the children and giving lessons. An assistant may be able to take over for a few minutes while you jot notes on a checklist. Instead, it may be easier to just promise parents at least one individual note about their child's progress per week. Rotate the children who get a note each day and keep track of who has received one.

Paper or Email Newsletter?

School are trying to go green, so many are electing to go with electronic newsletters, such as through Constant Contact. Some information, such as a monthly calendar, is almost better to be printed off so that parents can post a hard copy in a prominent location in their home. Electronic newsletters are not always read in time, so other highly important information should be sent on paper.

The process of sending out paper or electronic preschool newsletters can determine the frequency with which you publish. If one person is responsible for crafting the e-newsletters for an entire school, it can take a while to be finished. Be aware of the setup within your program and plan accordingly.

Tips to Make Writing Preschool Newsletters Easier

Start a template on your computer complete with topics and headings. Use it every time you write a newsletter. Keep the list of upcoming events saved so that you can delete and add when necessary. Have a calendar posted nearby with those events, children's birthdays, and your thematic schedule with lesson plans.

Bookmark favorite websites to share with parents. Keep a running list of great books and favorite activties to share. Schedule child development ideas in advance. A little organization goes a long way when crafting a good preschool newsletter.