Communication Guidelines

Staff to Parents:

• Staff are expected to inform parents regarding what is happening in their classroom
  • This could be via newsletter, Google Classroom, emails, phone calls, etc 
• Staff are expected to be available to parents within their working hours for appointments 
• Staff are expected to communicate regarding both successes and challenges 
• When there is a concern:
  • Staff should reach out to parents as soon as possible
  • Staff should communicate the concern respectfully, courteously, and factually
  • In an initial email, short and well organized information is best. Longer follow ups should come via an in-person or phone call meeting 
  • Staff should remember to copy appropriate admin on all digital communication
  • Staff should approach problems from the perspective of teamwork or partnership in communication 
• When there is a staff and parent meeting:
  • Staff should be respectful and courteous to our parents
  • Staff should have a posture of curiosity and openness to other perspectives and interpretations
  • Staff should not expect an immediate response to digital communication 
  • Staff should be respectful of parent time and adhere to meeting timelines
  • Staff should reassure parents that they appreciate how difficult it can be to have these conversations 

Staff to Student:

• Staff should treat and communicate with students in a respectful and courteous manner, regardless of feelings and management
• Staff should maintain professional boundaries in supporting and communicating with and about students
• Staff should consider the appropriate time and location to communicate with and about students regarding a concern 
• Staff should reassure students that they appreciate how difficult it can be to have conversations regarding concerns 

Parents to Staff:

• It is important to remember that staff appreciate and expect free and open communication with parents 
• Parents should support their child in learning advocacy skills by bringing up a concern with a teacher when possible 
• If there is a concern with your child:
  • Parents should speak first with the teacher before involving others in their concerns
  • Parents should make appointments to talk to teachers in conversations that are longer than ten minutes 
  • Parents should honour times of transition or personal time for staff when seeking out a conversation 
• In communication with teachers, both digital and in-person:
  • Parents should be respectful and courteous to our professionally trained staff
  • Parents should have a posture of curiosity and openness to other perspectives and interpretations
  • Parents should not expect an immediate response to digital communication 
  • Parents should be respectful of staff time and adhere to meeting timelines

Student to Staff:

• When a student has a concern, the student should reach out to the teacher regarding their concern if they are able 
• In communication with teachers, both digital and in-person:
  • Students should be respectful and courteous to our professionally trained staff
  • Students should have a posture of curiosity and openness to other perspectives and interpretations
  • Students should not expect an immediate response to digital communication 
  • Students should be respectful of staff time and adhere to meeting timelines
• If the concern continues, students should be encouraged to speak with the a member of the leadership team