100 plus communications tips for school boards and schools
These tip sheets are available through the ASBA office. Take a look at the list, make a note of the topic, month and year published and contact to order a copy.
2010
August/September
- ASBA supports school board efforts to promote school board elections
- Tips for trustees when responding to sensitive issues
- Get parents involved to improve student academic progress
- Getting people to read your school newsletter
- Emergency plan helps jurisdiction prepare for the unthinkable
- Helping people see the advantages of using social media
- Make student drives a community affair
- Weblinks – New public engagement award; Fire Prevention Week; World Teachers’ Day
Summer
- Tips and key messages for communicating about cutbacks
- How to connect with GenX parents
- Superintendents using Twitter
- Back to school package – what to include
- Communicating about student safety to and from school
- Weblinks- Alberta Bike to School Day
May
- Make conflict work for you
- Making the most of Internet video calls and conferencing
- Does your website measure up?
- Seven low cost communication strategies
- Weblinks–Great Kids Awards deadline June 14
April
- Reporting budget data effectively
- Producing a year-end report on a shoestring
- Communicating about predators
- Involve non-parents in keeping kids safe
- Weblinks–Education week April 25 to May 1
March
- Explaining how staffing impacts school board budgets
- Strengthening staff and community connections
- A sample graduation speech
- Weblinks–Surfing the internet safely
February
- Communicating budget cuts to the community
- Communicating student conduct expectations
- Connecting with non-parents
- Recognizing staff for their work
- Weblinks–Celebrating environmental excellence
January
- Using internal communication strengthen your reputation
- Using facebook to engage the public
- Explaining the importance of nutrition and active living
- Web links–Making the most of the Olympics
2009
November/December
- Responding to rumors in an age of instant communication
- Preparing for a public relations crisis
- Using a gold-mining format to collect feedback
- Setting up a key communicator network
- Tell your school’s story through pictures
- Web links – ASBA toolkit
October
- How to listen to your community
- 8 basic listening skills
- Host a successful meeting
- Working with afterschool programs
- Connecting with religious organizations
- Get ready for H1N1
- Web links – Get free refurbished computers
September
- What is Twitter?
- A glossary of Twitter terms
- Start the year off right! Make a great first impression
- What your phone answering system says about your school
- Is your child old enough to use social networking, cell phones and more
- Web links – World teacher's day
Summer
- How to show you care
- Help staff be ambassadors
- Workshop template
- Public relations basics
- 10 tips for staff
- Plan a back-to-school event
- Web links – Aboriginal day
May
- Surveys to help you find out what your community thinks
- Checklist of basic survey steps
- How to use text messaging
- Planning effective board retreats
- Communicating board goals
- Web links – Cyber safety
April
- Collecting information about students at your school
- User-friendly student handbook
- Preventing summer learning loss
- Keeping in touch over the summer
- Web links – Earth Day
March
- Be sensitive to different family configurations
- Sample graduation speech
- Aboriginal youth action project links global issues with community needs
- Web links – Education Week
February
- Dealing with book protests
- Understanding Social Media
- Turning parents into mathematics partners
- Web links – ASBA wants more public involvement in public education
January
- Defining the roles and responsibilities of the school board and superintendent
- Explaining school safety rules
- Demonstrating the belief that all kids can learn
- Welcoming parents as partners in education
- Web links – Technology in the classroom
2008
November/December
- Help your community understand your budget
- Media relations: Why “no comment" is not an option
- Bullying in the workplace
- Web links – Bullying Awareness Week
October
- Sharing school board news with other elected officials
- Dealing with critics
- Facilitating productive meetings
- Web links – Federal election
September
- Making the most of media relations
- E-mail do’s and don'ts
- Telephone etiquette
- Reading and writing on websites
- Creating an effective website
- Designing a successful newsletter
Summer
- Communicating data clearly
- Measuring achievement
- Keeping board meetings focused on your main topic
- Recruiting quality teachers
- Web links – National Aboriginal Day
May
- Establishing and explaining your vision
- Keeping the vision alive with staff
- Keeping your vision alive with community
- Web links – World No Tobacco Day
April
- The role of data in board decisions
- Gathering data using online surveys
- Speaking out with YouTube and blogs
- Encouraging your non-English parents
- Creating school “yellow pages”
- Web links – Blogs
March
- Assessing your school boards' communication
- Make your annual report a PR document
- Sharing good news about student achievement
- Graduation speech for trustees/superintendent
- Web links – Vanier Institute of the Family
February
- How to build trust
- How to connect with non-parent neighbours
- Involving volunteers in decision-making
- Reaching out to specific external publics
- Establishing partnerships to support student learning
- Working with weekly newspapers
- Web links – About the Excellence in Teaching Awards, Calgary partnership supports student initiative
January
- Building financial credibility with your community
- How the arts help students learn the basics
- Tips for employee recognition
- Building emergency communication networks
- Web links – Emergency Preparedness Week May 4-10
2007
November/December
- The power and impact of face-to-face communications
- Cultivate your grapevine
- Working with real estate agents – to promote schools
- Web links: Bully-free Alberta
October
- Strategies for working with advisory groups
- Non-verbal communication
- Effective group facilitation
- Communication tips for stressful conditions
- Think Global Art Contest – Web link
September
- Communicating about after school programs
- Profile your students’ community service
- Ice-breakers for the non-parent audience – Talking about the value of public education
- Celebrate bus safety week, Oct. 22-26
- How to help your child succeed: Web links
August
- Communicating with parents about their child’s progress
- Establishing rapport with parents
- Building relationships through listening
- Breaking bread together
Summer
- Orientating the media to your visions and goals
- Effective interpersonal communications defined
- Evaluating and planning internal communications
- Help staff become good ambassadors for jurisdiction
- First impressions make or break your reputation
- Toolkits downloads and links for potential school board candidates
- Web links
- Keeping kids safe online
June
- Effective interpersonal communciations
- How to evaluate internal communications
- Help staff become ambassadors
- Your school's reputation built on first impressions
- 2007 school board elections
- Web links: Cyber safety
May
- Establishing expectations among board members
- Communicating what trustees do through your reports and minutes
- Focusing meetings on achievement
- How to connect with your community
- Setting up a key communicator network
- 2007 Alberta school board elections
April
- Enhancing communications with multicultural groups
- Keeping the "news" in your newsletter
- Visuals and written elements key to great publications
- Special publication celebrates Alberta Education Week
March
- Tips for public speaking
- Sample graduation speech
- Your calendar as a public relations tool
- Teacher recognition
February
- Building a vital volunteer program
- Four T's of volunteer recruiting
- Rewarding your volunteers
- Evaluating your volunteer program
January
- How to plan productive school board meetings
- How to plan a focus group
- Steps for communicating change
2006
November/December
- Trustees play key public relations role in jurisdiction
- Communicating about school closures
- When there is a serious bus accident
October
- Effective advocacy
- Easing student transitions
- Writing key messages that work
- Canadian Association of Educators in Communications Conference 2006
September
- Finding the best staff for your students
- Keeping good staff once you've got them
- Forays into the blogosphere
- Partnering with the media
August
- School bus safety
- Appreciating cultural diversity
- Planning your first open house
- Getting the best translation services
June
- Communications principles that make a difference
- Connecting students with community resources
- When a student or staff member is arrested
- Welcoming non-parents into your school
May
- Introducing a new superintendent
- Important first steps for the new superintendent
- Dealing with damaging rumours
- Holding a community forum
- Girls in science mentoring program
April
- Strut your stuff: hold a parade, throw a party
- Keep school news flowing through the summer
- Tips to update your student handbook
- Revitalize your business partnerships
- Plant and aurora watch - weblinks
March
- Consider webcasting school events to your community
- Shine a spotlight on teachers - bring the community into the classroom
- Sample graduation speech for trustees
- When tragedy strikes - a basic plan
February
- Communicating across the gender gap
- Interpersonal communications - the little things make a big difference
- Techniques to help your memory
- Recognizing and retaining volunteers
- Especially for principals - strategies for working with volunteers
January
- Celebrate your staff throughout the school year
- Help parents understand graduation requirements
- A primer for telephone etiquette
2005
November/December
- Go "electronic" to connect with your community
- Communicating about weather emergencies
- Define a local standard for parental involvement
- Web links to better nutrition
October
- Marketing public schools
- Community relations for school boards
- Celebrating diversity during the holidays
- Make your website the very best...a checklist
September
- Reaching your board's comunications goals
- Working with the media: tips for the school board
- Writing an effective media release
- Tips for the classroom teacher when communicating with parents
August
- Hot tips to make your e-mail work for you
- 10 Rules for better listening
- Strategies to improve your listening skills
- Listening to your community
- Listening to staff (employee surveys)
- Listening to students
June
- Your body language speaking without words
- Dealing with your critics
- Generational communications
- Keeping your events calendar current
- A public relations timetable
May
- Keeping cool when the heat is on
- Strategy for dealing with unhappy individuals
- Summer media coverage
- Access to students by community groups
- Making user friendly websites
- Web links to summer events
April
- Partnering with other agencies
- Schools without drugs
- Informative web links to ease into spring
March
- Knowing what your community values
- Preventing tobacco use
- Sample graduation speech
- Web links
February
- Communicating with volunteers
- A website content primer
- Informative web links
January
- Communicating changes in nutrition policies
- Support staff are key communicators
- Newsletter articles about nutrition
- Writing for the web
- Nutrition letter for parents
- Sample proclamation - support staff
- Web links
2004
December
- Establishing website guidelines
- Tips for great websites
October
- Communicating about students with special needs
- How to involve parents
- Putting a spotlight on education
- Be part of community celebrations
- Effective PowerPoint presentations
- Websites for further reading
September
- Encouraging positive board staff relations
- Creating schools that are community centres
- Teachers - communicating with families
- Greeting new classified employees
- Greeting new teachers
- Web links - healthy living
June
- Planning for back-to-school
- Back-to-school newspaper supplement
- Using common objects to teach
- Web links - learning and fitness
May
- Communicating your budget
- Goal setting with your community
- Marketing public schools
- Surf your local library
April
- Communications planning steps for principals
- Honing your communications program
- Honours speech for trustees
- Preparing for kindergarten registration
- Kindergarten website links
March
- Teacher appreciation
- Communicating with diverse communities
- Graduation speech
- Making a calendar or handbook
- Websites - education
February
- Recruiting today's motivated volunteer
- Check out your library
- Publishing a staff newsletter
- Postcards - a recognition idea
- List of ways to use your library card
January
- Evaluating public relations program
- Fostering the positive classroom
- Student led conference
- Community relations checklist
- Communicating during a crisis
2003
December
- Engage your community and create Key supporters
- Components of civil and safe schools
November
- How to host public meetings that promote dialogue
- Influencing legislators
- Working with the media
- Welcoming baby boomers as volunteers in your schools
October
- Parent-Teacher interviews to set stage for student success
- Displays that catch the eye
- How to give a great speech
- Creating a speakers bureau
September
- Getting the school year off to a positive start
- Sustaining change in a school setting
- Find out what parents want to know
- Websites that work
June
- Keeping the vision alive
- Marketing schools
- Creating a first day holiday
May
- Improving board meetings
- Listening effectively
- Communicating with non-English speakers
April
- PR for administrators
- Administrator training
- Useful communications tools
March
- Adding impact to presentations
- Speaking at graduation
- Appreciating teachers
February
- The new volunteer
- Teacher recruitment
- Diversity year round
January
- Building emergency communication networks
- Checking e-mail uses
- Involving parents in meaningful ways
- Honouring the support staff
2002
November/December
- Understanding the seven c’s of communication
- Creating annual reports
- Keeping in touch with home-schooled students
October
- Planning effective communications
- Building community support
- Opening schools to the public
- Setting up a key communicator network
- Hosting an open house
September
- Explaining today’s schoolhouse
- Managing issues
- Dealing with change
- Handling complaints
August
- Creating business partnerships
- Emphasizing student achievement
- Communicating as a teacher
- Improving publications
June
- Increasing visibility
- Keeping the public in public schools
- Making it a habit to ask
- Dealing with emerging issues
May
- The media and the school board
- Keeping media relations positive
- Getting your message out
- Success on the radio
- Using voice mail
April
- Employees as ambassadors
- Guide for facilitators
- Two PR workshops
- Tips for staff
March
- Support for decisions
- Sample graduations speech
- Supervisors as communicators
- Publication production
February
- Working with volunteers
- Forming student-community partnerships
- Including students in school communications
- Speaking out for schools
January
- Reaching a new public
- Teaching tolerance
- Reaching out to diverse Families
- Saying “thanks” to support staff
