Mokena School District 159 Strategic Plan Goal Update Communication Mokena School District 159 Strategic Plan Goal Update

Goal Area 2: Communication To provide optimum parental communication at all levels Clear and consistent communication is one of the most essential elements of any functioning system. The strategic plan identified that we are in need of strong communication between the school and parents/family members. We have worked hard to accomplish this goal.

A high quality communication loop between home and school is vital to our success.

Digital Welcome Packet Completed: July 2016 A set of links were created that are connected to the district web page that directs families to resources within the greater Lincoln-Way Area Action Steps Digital Welcome Packet Completed: July 2016 DAVE When a new student registers in Mokena, they are to be directed to the school district web site where they can find two important links. The first is the Parent Page where there are links to all sorts of information about the schools and the district. Anti-Bullying Resource Approved Snack List Emergency School Closing Frequently Ask Questions Regarding Transportation Health Forms Journeys - K-5 Lunch Information Mokena School District 159 Map My Math/Glencoe Online Payment ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR CURRENT STUDENTS Parent Tutorials Registration School Supply Lists Skyward Family/Student Access Suicide Prevention Resources The second is the Community Page where there are links to a myriad of services and organizations in the Greater Mokena Area. PTA, MEF, DIstrict 210, LWASE, Village, Park District, Police, Fire

B.1. Improve our School and District Web Sites Ongoing since 2015 Each school and the district have upgraded web sites since the summer of 2015. The content on the sites is constantly being updated and is a hub for communication. Action Steps B.1. Improve our School and District Web Sites Ongoing since 2015 Principals and techs at each building are in charge of updating content. Team web pages are connected to the Junior High Site Homework Assignments Other documents

B.2. Teacher Web Sites July 2017... This action step has evolved. Focus on using Skyward as a method of communication Using Team Web Sites at MJHS 1:1 Initiative and push to use Google Classroom Action Steps B.2. Teacher Web Sites July 2017... A good strategic plan does not stay on the shelf and collect dust. This action step is an example of a component that needed to evolve as the situation on the ground changed. At the time of the creation of the strategic plan, the idea was that we needed to train our staff on the use of web pages as a communication tool. We decided to hold off on this to tackle some other issues. We are glad that we did. We didn’t know we would be changing our student management system to Skyward and that there would be other initiatives that would make it so we changed our focus. It is not to say that we will not end up creating web pages, but we now have some very powerful tools that my make it so we don’t really need to. Skyward itself is a powerful tool that can be used as a communication tool with home. There is the message center where teachers can post homework and information for parents, and parents can login to see grades, attendance, discipline, and other information about their child. Teams at MJHS have their own team web sites where homework and other grade level information is updated daily. The Chromebook initiative alone has been a game changer. Students can access class materials wherever they have an internet connection.

C. 1. & C. 2 - Social Media In place: July 2017 Each School and the District Office maintain a Facebook page. There was a discussion about teachers using social media in their classrooms but we have utilized other methods of communication at this time Action Steps C. 1. & C. 2 - Social Media In place: July 2017 DAVE School and district FB pages are regularly updated with announcements and good news. Mr. Smith has taken over the Twitter pages for the district and soon will be tweeting out information and linking it to other forms of communication. There was some discussion about using FB or Twitter as a communication tool in classrooms, but we have decided that we have other more effective and manageable ways to communicate with home right now. This may develop in the future, but we currently have put this on the back burner for classrooms use. Remind 101

D.1. Communications with Home Partially in Place: July 2017 Teachers regularly send home communication through weekly notes, newsletters, and Skyward. Administration sends home newsletters and frequent Skylert messages Parent and student Access to Skyward Home portal Action Steps D.1. Communications with Home Partially in Place: July 2017 DAVE Weekly notes home at K-5 Skylert messages Daily Announcements at MJHS are on our web page One of the components of the original discussion was that parents wondered why teacher “A” at a certain grade level may be sending home a lot more information than teacher “B” at the same grade level. As principals, we have shared that we have a minimal expectation that communication about what is going on in classes should be shared, but we have not developed a common set of standards. We understand that there is no single method that works for every staff member, grade level or school. With Skyward, Skylert, newsletters, fliers, Remind 101, and other kinds of messages going home, we are doing our best to cover all of the bases. Again, this is something that we will continue to work on and find consistent ways to get messages home.

D.2. - Transition from paper to electronic documents Ongoing 1:1 Initiative More dependant on electronic communication with home Increased use of the Google Suite for Collaboration Action Steps D.2. - Transition from paper to electronic documents Ongoing MJHS Skylert for all fliers and documents Using Google Forms for athletics Students can’t print from Chromebooks

E. Volunteer Sign-Ups In Process PTA and Music Boosters utilize volunteer sign up software Buildings/classrooms handle their own sign ups for activities Software may not be needed Action Steps E. Volunteer Sign-Ups In Process DAVE

Communication is good but can always be improved. DAVE

Considerations for the future Consistent standards for staff communication through our existing tools: Skyward, Email, etc. Research the use of classroom, grade level web pages Increase our social media presence Develop redundant systems to allow for a parent to find information in multiple ways DAVE

Questions?