Communication expectations
In Staff Handbook:
COMMUNICATION
Positive relationships with students, parents, and fellow staff-members start at the beginning of the year. The last impression people have of you will stay with them until you have a chance to change it — if you ever have another chance. Remember to project an attitude of professionalism and eagerness to be of help.
Remove negative emotions from problem solving by not reacting to anger or negative actions by automatically demonstrating the same behavior, but by patiently and calmly getting people talking, venting, and listening.
Ultimately, we should all strive to create a caring environment for the students where each one can learn and grow to his/her best potential. Our professional faculty and staff members play a significant role in Findley Oaks’ success. Each person contributes daily to the strength and character of Findley Oaks. We urge all teachers to become involved and support the school. Your positive attitude and support will make a difference and our students will benefit by being in a safe and happy environment.
Conferences, Parent-Teacher
A) An individual parent-teacher conference is held with the parents of every student during the first term (on or around the Workday in October).
B) Conferences are held throughout the year.
C) Additional conferences are held as follows:
1) When repeated or major discipline problems occur
2) When there is a sudden change in the attitude and/or quality of
work of the student
3) With parents of new students
4) With parents regarding the possibility of retention:
Notification in writing should be presented to parents at an
early winter conference date. The school must retain a copy
of the notification.
5) With parents of pupils who are to be retained. Discuss the possibility of retention with the CST as soon as the possibility arises.
6) When a student is failing for a marking period/semester.
D) Two forms are furnished for the convenience of the classroom teacher in planning the parent-teacher conference program.
1) Teacher-Pre-Conference Letter (Forms)
2) Conference Guide and Record (two pages). (Forms)
E) Keep a log of each parent conference/call in Infinite Campus. If an interpreter is needed, one can be provided by completing an Interpreter Request Form. (Forms)
Email
Fulton County Schools provide an e-mail service to encourage effective communication among the staff members, and to facilitate home-school communication. Teachers at Findley Oaks are expected to make their school e-mail address available to the parents of their students, and email addresses will be available on the school website. E-mail must be responded to within 24 hours of the end of the business day the e-mail is received. (Weekends and holidays are not counted in the 24-hour time frame.) E-mail from parents should not contain change of dismissal instructions, nor should it be used as emergency communication. Staff members are expected to check their e-mail regularly, at least twice each day.
Please be sure to proofread all email prior to sending. Look for spelling, usage, and grammatical errors. Also, be aware of the tone of your email. Be sure to remain professional and objective in your emails. If the content of email could be misinterpreted, it is recommended that a phone call be made rather than sending an email.
Grade and Progress Reports—See Grading and Reporting
Newsletters/Findley Flyer
The school newsletter, The Findley Flyer, is sent home bimonthly Thursday during the school year. This newsletter contains messages from the principal, the assistant principal, the CST, parent groups, and others. Items to be included in the Flyer are due to the front office professional assistant by noon the Tuesday prior to publication.
Newsletters/Teachers
To ensure that parents are aware of all the many wonderful things going on in your classroom, each grade level must prepare a weekly newsletter that will go out every Friday. Remember that the newsletter represents you and Findley Oaks ES. Please choose fonts that are easy to read. Also, try not to use too many exclamation points.
All newsletters to parents must include the following: Introduction, academics/curriculum, upcoming dates for assessments, projects etc…, important dates for upcoming events.
Newsletters are to be uploaded to Teams. The purpose of this review is to ensure that information or directives are in agreement with our school philosophy, procedures/policies, plans, other information distributed, or Fulton County’s policies and procedures. Items to be included in grade level newsletters are due to the grade chair on Tuesday afternoons.
Email
Teachers should respond to emails from parents within 24 hours. It is the judgment of the teacher whether to respond via telephone call or email. Please check your clutter and junk mail daily as some important emails may end up in those folders.
Telephone Calls
Parent telephone calls, notes and e-mails should be returned within 24 hours. It is an expectation that teachers will make their school e-mail address available to parents of their students. If you are unable to reach a parent due to unlisted or disconnected telephone numbers, please send home a letter and Student Information Update form.
Email or Phone Call?
Email is great for a quick communication, responding to a question, asking a question, paper trail, etc…A phone call is better if the email is going to be long and complicated to convey in writing, includes sensitive and personal information, or if emotions are involved. Phone calls are also great for building relationships.
Website
Findley Oaks maintains a school website. Individual teams and/or grade level teams may develop their own website. If you choose to do this, please keep it updated.
Weekly/Bi-weekly Papers
Each teacher is expected to send home a sample of class work and tests weekly or bi-monthly Also, class sets of papers, flyers, brochures, etc. may be put in your mailboxes throughout the week. Please hold and send everything home on Thursday unless a special note gives directions to send papers home sooner. Note that it in the case of time sensitive class work, such as tests and review material, it is not necessary to wait until Thursday to send that information home.
Positive relationships with students, parents, and fellow staff-members start at the beginning of the year. The last impression people have of you will stay with them until you have a chance to change it — if you ever have another chance. Remember to project an attitude of professionalism and eagerness to be of help.
Remove negative emotions from problem solving by not reacting to anger or negative actions by automatically demonstrating the same behavior, but by patiently and calmly getting people talking, venting, and listening.
Ultimately, we should all strive to create a caring environment for the students where each one can learn and grow to his/her best potential. Our professional faculty and staff members play a significant role in Findley Oaks’ success. Each person contributes daily to the strength and character of Findley Oaks. We urge all teachers to become involved and support the school. Your positive attitude and support will make a difference and our students will benefit by being in a safe and happy environment.
Conferences, Parent-Teacher
A) An individual parent-teacher conference is held with the parents of every student during the first term (on or around the Workday in October).
B) Conferences are held throughout the year.
C) Additional conferences are held as follows:
1) When repeated or major discipline problems occur
2) When there is a sudden change in the attitude and/or quality of
work of the student
3) With parents of new students
4) With parents regarding the possibility of retention:
Notification in writing should be presented to parents at an
early winter conference date. The school must retain a copy
of the notification.
5) With parents of pupils who are to be retained. Discuss the possibility of retention with the CST as soon as the possibility arises.
6) When a student is failing for a marking period/semester.
D) Two forms are furnished for the convenience of the classroom teacher in planning the parent-teacher conference program.
1) Teacher-Pre-Conference Letter (Forms)
2) Conference Guide and Record (two pages). (Forms)
E) Keep a log of each parent conference/call in Infinite Campus. If an interpreter is needed, one can be provided by completing an Interpreter Request Form. (Forms)
Fulton County Schools provide an e-mail service to encourage effective communication among the staff members, and to facilitate home-school communication. Teachers at Findley Oaks are expected to make their school e-mail address available to the parents of their students, and email addresses will be available on the school website. E-mail must be responded to within 24 hours of the end of the business day the e-mail is received. (Weekends and holidays are not counted in the 24-hour time frame.) E-mail from parents should not contain change of dismissal instructions, nor should it be used as emergency communication. Staff members are expected to check their e-mail regularly, at least twice each day.
Please be sure to proofread all email prior to sending. Look for spelling, usage, and grammatical errors. Also, be aware of the tone of your email. Be sure to remain professional and objective in your emails. If the content of email could be misinterpreted, it is recommended that a phone call be made rather than sending an email.
Grade and Progress Reports—See Grading and Reporting
Newsletters/Findley Flyer
The school newsletter, The Findley Flyer, is sent home bimonthly Thursday during the school year. This newsletter contains messages from the principal, the assistant principal, the CST, parent groups, and others. Items to be included in the Flyer are due to the front office professional assistant by noon the Tuesday prior to publication.
Newsletters/Teachers
To ensure that parents are aware of all the many wonderful things going on in your classroom, each grade level must prepare a weekly newsletter that will go out every Friday. Remember that the newsletter represents you and Findley Oaks ES. Please choose fonts that are easy to read. Also, try not to use too many exclamation points.
All newsletters to parents must include the following: Introduction, academics/curriculum, upcoming dates for assessments, projects etc…, important dates for upcoming events.
Newsletters are to be uploaded to Teams. The purpose of this review is to ensure that information or directives are in agreement with our school philosophy, procedures/policies, plans, other information distributed, or Fulton County’s policies and procedures. Items to be included in grade level newsletters are due to the grade chair on Tuesday afternoons.
Teachers should respond to emails from parents within 24 hours. It is the judgment of the teacher whether to respond via telephone call or email. Please check your clutter and junk mail daily as some important emails may end up in those folders.
Telephone Calls
Parent telephone calls, notes and e-mails should be returned within 24 hours. It is an expectation that teachers will make their school e-mail address available to parents of their students. If you are unable to reach a parent due to unlisted or disconnected telephone numbers, please send home a letter and Student Information Update form.
Email or Phone Call?
Email is great for a quick communication, responding to a question, asking a question, paper trail, etc…A phone call is better if the email is going to be long and complicated to convey in writing, includes sensitive and personal information, or if emotions are involved. Phone calls are also great for building relationships.
Website
Findley Oaks maintains a school website. Individual teams and/or grade level teams may develop their own website. If you choose to do this, please keep it updated.
Weekly/Bi-weekly Papers
Each teacher is expected to send home a sample of class work and tests weekly or bi-monthly Also, class sets of papers, flyers, brochures, etc. may be put in your mailboxes throughout the week. Please hold and send everything home on Thursday unless a special note gives directions to send papers home sooner. Note that it in the case of time sensitive class work, such as tests and review material, it is not necessary to wait until Thursday to send that information home.
Teacher Weekly Newsletter Check List
Weekly Newsletter Checklist
2022-2023 School Year
To ensure that parents are aware of all the many wonderful things going on in your classroom, each grade level must prepare a weekly newsletter that will go out every Friday. Remember that the newsletter represents you and Findley Oaks ES. Please choose fonts that are easy to read. Also, try not to use too many exclamation points.
If you have information that you would like a grade level to send in their newsletter, please email the grade level chair by the end of the day on Tuesday. This will allow time for the teams to add it to their newsletter.
Newsletter minimum expectations checklist:
2022-2023 School Year
To ensure that parents are aware of all the many wonderful things going on in your classroom, each grade level must prepare a weekly newsletter that will go out every Friday. Remember that the newsletter represents you and Findley Oaks ES. Please choose fonts that are easy to read. Also, try not to use too many exclamation points.
If you have information that you would like a grade level to send in their newsletter, please email the grade level chair by the end of the day on Tuesday. This will allow time for the teams to add it to their newsletter.
Newsletter minimum expectations checklist:
- Introduction (this can be whole grade level or personalized by teacher)
- Academics/curriculum information (include ALL levels)
- Please include a link to the Parent and Student Curriculum Hub in each weekly news letter. This hub is organized in units for each grade and course so make sure you let parents know what unit you are currently working on. https://safari.fultonschools.org/PORTAL
- Upcoming dates for assessments, projects etc…
- Important dates for upcoming events
- Signed by whole team including email address (if sending a grade level newsletter rather than individual teacher newsletter)
- Post newsletter in grade level Teams