Here are eight must-have items that every principal should include on their school homepage:
1. A short introduction on how to get the most out of the homepage, including shortcut commands to help get to the webpage with the specific
information that they need.
2. School calendar that includes holidays, days off, PTA meetings, fundraising events and menus with school meals.
3. Directory of phone numbers and email addresses of school staff, including the principal, teachers, counselors, secretaries and
administrative personnel.
4. Policies and procedures on issues related to attendance and discipline.
5. Emergency bulletins at the top of the page that will supersede any other information. This is where the winter weather advisories would go. It can also include situations such as the heating boiler breaking down, a notice about a Code Red or Code Blue, if there’s a suspicious person on the school campus, etc.
6. Academic content for parents and students. For students, it’s the area where they can find their grades and homework assignments. For parents, this content would include assistance to find tutors, seeing their children’s grades and course material, finding resources and seeing the contact information of their children’s teachers.
7. Student-Focused information on such as the link to the school new.spaper. _
profiles of the student of the week or month at each grade level and the list of honor roll students.
8. Principal’s Corner, where the principal can post his or her blog or
newsletter. It can also be a space to report on controversial news coverage surrounding the school and community when the principal and other district leadership would want to tell their side of the story.
Eight Must-Have Items for Every School Homepage
by RichBagin on the NSPRA Principals Newletter.
The increasing role of technology in today’s communications efforts can enhance public engagement. Students and their families rely on the accessibility of school websites. The homepage of that website offers principals an opportunity to post pertinent information in a way that meets the needs of students and their families.