I'd like our corresponding secretary to send out newsletters pretty frequently (which is a huge change for us, seeing as how I only received 2 or 3 last school year). But how much is too much? A few years ago, we sent them out monthly.

It seems like we could circulate smaller, simpler newsletters if we did it weekly. What experiences have you had with this?

We send out a monthly news letter along with the school newsletter. I think weekly will annoy parents. This year we are going green and emailing the newsletters. Maybe if you send out a monthly newsletter with small email updates for upcoming events. Hope that helps!

Yeah, we're definitely going with as many email msgs as possible. However, about 1/4 of the school's population doesn't have access to email... I'm still toying with the idea of pretty frequent newsletters. It's not that I want to annoy parents, but I honestly don't believe they always see them or get them...(not to be critical, but kids aren't always reliable).

We send out monthly newsletters in our elementary school but only three times a year in our middle school. The middle school newsletter is mailed (since the kids don't bring ANYTHING home) in August, January and May.

During the rest of the year, we send out weekly email updates to parents who subscribe to our group (we use Google Groups) to keep them updated on school, PTO and district-wide events.

I have taken on this responsibility myself as the President, as the Newsletter is the main source of communication ebtween the families and the PTO.

I try my best to make it every month. I have limited it to a front and back, single sheet. I use color, which really does enhance the look and presentation.

But honestly, this is a huge task. I would recommend tryin to front as much as possible. In otherwords, have general write-ups for everything you do as reference for every event that will be included in the newsletter. As President I include an editorial at the beginning of each newsletter. Welcome back, get involved for September. Happy holidays, get involved for December. Happy new year, get involved for January. Spring is here, it's never too late to get involved for April. Etc.

This truly is one of the biggest projects, and possibly one of the most important.

Also, try to set up a form using your school logo, mascot, etc. If you would like me to e-mail you one of mine let me know.

PresidentJim

Our elementary school emails a weekly newsletter. PTO news is included, as submitted by the PTO's Corresponding Secretary. But the PTO also creates its own newsletter about 1/quarter. The PTO-specific newsletter has recaps and photos of past events, thank you's, info about upcoming events. It's more of a PR piece that an informaitonal piece. If your school does its own newsletter, I'd suggest tagging along on theirs. Like Jim said, creating a newsletter can be a giangantic job. To do it weekly would be overwhelming (and too much info for the parents in my opinion).