District 211 superintendent's newsletter gets a reboot

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211's longtime Superintendent's Newsletter has gone digital.

The school system, which for years has published a paper version of a newsletter summarizing significant district initiatives; updates for parents, staff and students; and key dates to know, has moved this month to a fully online version - using video, social media, content links and interactive photo galleries to relay the information formerly delivered in printed form.

The first edition features a video welcome from Superintendent Dr. Lisa Small, now in her second year at the district's helm; photos from the first semester showcasing students in classrooms and participating in athletics and activities; social media posts; in-house videos highlighting students and staff; and headlines from when the district has made the news.

In coming editions, Small will be featured addressing topics of interest from the school buildings, and more students and staff will be involved in telling the district's stories.

"We realized everything we were saying in print we could be saying in other ways," said Erin Holmes, director of communications. "This is a more visual and, hopefully, eventually a more interactive way to engage with our staff, parents, students and our community."

The newsletter is being pushed out using the district's homepage, social media and email.

The district also publishes Principal Newsletters from each school, and discussions are ongoing regarding more creative ways to relay that information as well. The goal, Holmes said, is to truly engage all those within District 211's learning community and also to personalize everyone in the schools - particularly on the heels of a pandemic that took them out of the buildings.

Though currently available on the district's website, plans are underway for community members to be able to subscribe to all publications in a digital format - from Principal and Superintendent newsletters to financial documents and the Community Education guide.

To access the new version, visit www.d211.org and Select "Mailings and Newsletters" under the "Parents" tab.