C – Community (A to Z Tips)

Background rationale - Why A to Z? Each blog begins with a letter of the alphabet allowing you to be able to tell which ones you have read or seen on LinkedIn.

Intro:

Many of us are struggling – feeling more than a little isolated and ‘out of the loop’. None of us likes to have our routine disrupted. The same is true of parents. Below are a few hints and tips that might help parents feel better connected, in addition to the great work you are already doing.

Ethos:

• Although this period may change much about what you do, and what you offer to parents, it is unlikely that your ethos will change as a result.

• Think long and hard about what your school stands for and what is most important to you. Make sure these essentials are portrayed in all your communications. Being clear about your ethos will underwrite your school community, even though it might seem disparate at the moment. After all, your ethos, amongst other things, will have been one of the major factors which influenced parents to choose your school for their children.

• This is a chance to really demonstrate your ethos– use it.

Extended community:

All schools have a sense of community by virtue of the fact they are a collection of individuals with a collective sense of destiny. However, not all have the mechanism for transferring the everyday community to the broader dispersed relationship we are all trying to get used to.

• Some schools have online services to communicate with parents, and children, to set and mark work. This is a start, but it is not enough to grow, or even maintain, a sense of community.

• Deliver live broadcasts and podcast messages, at least twice weekly, share what is going on in different year groups and the learning activities available. Challenging times call for strong leadership and parents and pupils alike will be looking to you to guide them through these tough times.

• Communicate from your Admin and Bursary teams about future processes and about future plans. Can any of the normal working activities become virtual? If so, launch them online so parents can see your teams actively supporting the school.

• Maintain assemblies on a live stream – with participation from different Year groups on a rolling basis.

• Create virtual chat rooms for groups in classes – schedule classes to have a dial in time as a group with teachers or form tutors. Encourage lunch times together to maintain broader friendships groups.

• Set playtime activities, competitions and online quizzes.

• Continue awards and celebrations. Reward good work to encourage others to follow suit.

• Share online good news and positive thoughts and feedback from parents and children.

Above all, don’t lose humour, retain it and use it to lift your community’s spirit, creating a stronger bond, even though you are temporarily disbanded.

Call or direct message us; we are here to help.