Holiday Harmony: Crafting Inclusive December School Newsletters
As we approach the holiday season, it’s important to celebrate your school community’s achievements while respecting a variety of cultural traditions. Here’s how to strike a balance in your holiday communications.
Embrace Diversity in Your Content
Highlight Multiple Celebrations
Don’t limit your newsletter to a single holiday. Showcase a variety of celebrations that occur during the winter months, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, and New Year’s. This approach educates students about different cultures and helps all families feel included.
Feature Student Achievements
December newsletters are perfect for celebrating student successes. Include academic accomplishments, sports victories, community service projects, artistic performances, and any special projects your school or district is working on. This focus on student and school wins transcends cultural boundaries and unites the school community.
Make Your Newsletter Accessible
Use Translation Services
Ensure your newsletter reaches all families by using translation services. Smore offers built-in translation features, making your content accessible to multilingual families. Our parent company SchoolStatus takes translation a step further, enabling automatic translation for texts and emails (plus SchoolStatus Connect seamlessly integrates with your favorite newsletter builder).
Provide Digital and Print Options
While digital newsletters are convenient, families access their content in many different ways, depending on their habits and access. Remember to meet families where they are, which is everywhere! Share your newsletter on social media, send it via email, post it on your website, and even print it out (for those who prefer the old-fashioned paper update).
Incorporate Interactive Elements
Polls and Surveys
Engage your school community by including interactive elements like New Year’s resolution polls or surveys about favorite holiday traditions. This encourages participation and makes the newsletter more engaging.
Share Multimedia Content
Include videos of school performances or photo galleries of holiday events. Visual content adds interest and helps capture the spirit of the season.
Focus on Community Building
Highlight Volunteer Opportunities
Use your newsletter to promote holiday-themed volunteer activities. This encourages community involvement and teaches students the value of giving back.
Share Resources for Families
Provide links to holiday-themed educational resources or fun activities families can do together during the break. This supports continued learning outside of school and adds value to your newsletter.
Maintain a Respectful Tone
Use Inclusive Language
Opt for phrases like “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” instead of specific holiday greetings. This ensures all families feel welcomed and respected. Check out Edutopia’s suggestions for inclusive language and activities.
Acknowledge Different Traditions
When mentioning specific holidays, provide brief explanations to educate your community about various cultural traditions. This helps all students and families feel like their traditions are valued—and it might even spark some fun new ideas for families to try at home.
By following these guidelines, you’ll create an end-of-year newsletter that celebrates your school’s achievements, respects diversity, and brings your community together during the holiday season.
For more tips on creating impactful school newsletters, visit the Smore Blog.
