NEWSLETTER
A newsletter is a vital link between home and school promoting pride in membership and bringing each reader in touch with PTA. Its purpose is to provide accurate, timely and objective information that is easy to read and understand. The newsletter informs - about PTA and what it is doing, about what is happening in the school, and may announce resources for parents.
Newsletter Chair Responsibilities:
- Research cost figures for production and printing so that the newsletter stays within the budget allocation. Consider electronic distribution with hardcopies sent home. Investigate ways to send newsletters home - with school directory distribution, with report cards, etc.
- Work closely with the president to set a publishing calendar.
- Decides on content and layout for each issue. The president approves the final copy and in turn checks with the administration on matters of school policy before the newsletter goes to print or is visible to members and the public.
- Oversees production and distribution of the newsletter.
- The committees should each be asked to individually write articles or updates the month prior to, during and after their event and to submit them to the Chair in a timely manner.
- The newsletter chair should seek articles from knowledgeable PTA members or leadership. There shoud always be a blurb from the PTA President on the front page.
- The newsletter chair also serves as editor - again, the PTA president should approve all content.
A PTA Newsletter may include. . .
President’s message may include:
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Location, time, and topic of PTA programs and PTA meetings
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Membership information (not just requests for money)
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Committee reports; thanks yous, news from council
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Information from local (council level), region, state and national PTA sources
School News
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Each newsletter should have a blurb from the administrator/principal and a board of education representative
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School activities and events - read through daily announcements that are consolidated on OMS PTA Website to consider including peices
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Aspects of an instructional program with background possibly written by a teacher
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School board decisions and news
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Building Countil information
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Subshine news - check with chair
Parent News
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Seek out information via an email or informal interview to obtain parent education information and hot topic issues (from school nurse, librarian, social workers, health teachers, drama club, psychologist, etc.)
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Information on legislation that affects children and education and what to do about it
- Safety tips - things such as internet safety (link to NYS PTA resources at http://www.pta.org/topic_internet_safety.asp)
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Health information from school nurse on hot topic issues
Click on the following to obtain more informaion about creating a quality PTA newsletter -