Create a Memorable Thanksgiving Newsletter for Your School

Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to connect with your school community and express gratitude for the support and collaboration that make your school a thriving environment. A well-crafted Thanksgiving newsletter can help you share important updates, celebrate accomplishments, and build a stronger sense of community.

There’s no time like the present to tick it off your list, and we’ve got a Thanksgiving Message to Families school newsletter template that will make the job easy. Let’s take a walk through it! 🦃

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1. Start with a Warm and Personal Greeting:

A heartfelt greeting sets the tone for your Thanksgiving newsletter and makes your message more personal.

• Express Gratitude: Begin your newsletter with a warm message of thanks to parents, students, and staff for their ongoing support and dedication. Personalize the greeting by mentioning specific achievements or contributions that have made a difference in your school community.
• Holiday Wishes: Extend your best wishes for a joyful and restful Thanksgiving break. For tips on crafting meaningful holiday messages, check out Forbes’ guide on effective holiday communication.

• Feature the kids: One great way to kick off your Thanksgiving newsletter is to feature students, who are the reason for it all! You could select moments that represent Thanksgiving celebrations, or fall investigations, or highlights from the semester so far.

Pics of kids is a surefire way to increase family engagement – everyone hunts for their own child!

2. Highlight School Achievements and Events:

Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on the successes and milestones achieved throughout the school year.

• Celebrate Accomplishments: Use this section to highlight key achievements, such as academic successes, sports victories, or community service projects. Incorporate photos or videos to make the celebration more engaging.

• Upcoming Events: Provide a preview of upcoming events that families should be aware of, such as winter concerts, holiday parties, or charity drives.

3. Share Student and Staff Spotlights:

Recognizing the hard work of students and staff fosters a sense of pride and community.

• Student Achievements: Feature a “Student Spotlight” section where you highlight students who have excelled academically, demonstrated leadership, or contributed positively to the school community.
• Staff Recognition: Don’t forget to recognize the efforts of your teachers and staff. A “Staff Spotlight” can acknowledge their dedication and the impact they’ve had on students’ lives. For more ideas on how to celebrate your school community, visit Edutopia’s article on positive school culture.

4. Encourage Family Involvement During the Holidays:

Thanksgiving is a time for family, so encourage your school community to stay engaged during the break.

• Holiday Activities: Suggest fun and educational activities that families can do together during the Thanksgiving break, such as reading challenges, art projects, or virtual museum tours. This helps maintain a connection between school and home even during the holidays.
• Volunteer Opportunities: If your school is involved in any Thanksgiving-related community service, such as food drives or charity events, encourage families to participate. Platforms like SchoolStatus can help you effectively communicate these opportunities to parents.

5. Include a Section on Gratitude and Giving Back:

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, so incorporate this theme into your newsletter.

• Gratitude Projects: Share ideas for gratitude projects that students can do, such as writing thank-you notes to teachers or creating artwork that expresses what they’re thankful for. For inspiration, check out this PBS Parents guide on teaching gratitude.
• Giving Back: Highlight any school or community initiatives that focus on giving back, such as donating to local food banks or supporting families in need. Encouraging acts of kindness and generosity reinforces the spirit of Thanksgiving.

• Get creative: Photos are GREAT, no question. But there are lots of fun ways to show your appreciation for families. Make a playlist on Spotify. Make a Top 10 List. Write a poem.

6. Close with a Call to Action and Well-Wishes:

End your newsletter with a clear call to action and warm holiday wishes.

• Call to Action: Encourage families to stay connected by signing up for upcoming events, participating in holiday activities, or following the school on social media. This helps maintain engagement even after the newsletter is read.
• Final Well-Wishes: Conclude with a heartfelt message wishing everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. For additional ways to craft effective calls to action, visit HubSpot’s blog on CTA best practices.
• Say it with video: We’re not so great at reading these days… when folks see a block of text, their eyes tend to glaze over. So, if you’ve got something heartfelt to say to parents, say it in a way that they’ll hear it.

Creating a memorable Thanksgiving newsletter is an excellent way to connect with your school community, celebrate achievements, and spread holiday cheer. By following these strategies and using tools like Smore and SchoolStatus, you can craft a newsletter that resonates with families and strengthens your school’s sense of community.

Ok, that’s it. Time to get started! Just a click to duplicate 🧡