Here's How to Welcome Your Team Back to School

It's that time again... back-to-school! Dreaded by parents, students, and faculty alike lol.

Nevertheless, here we are. And welcoming your team back with a school newsletter that's friendly, informative, and inspirational is a good way to set the tone.

Here are three essential categories for your Welcome Back newsletter.

1. Information that's Immediately Useful

When your team opens their email and sees the "Welcome Back" subject line, they may do a first cruise through with only one eye open. So, you want to make sure you get the key information across. For most people, the key info is the first week's schedule: "Just tell me when I have to show up!" The second thing everyone wants to know is, "What do I have to do?" So, if there are tasks to complete, put those front and center.

Lastly, it's great to welcome any new members of the team--it puts them at ease, and helps returning folks put names to faces.

2. Resources that set the professional tone

We recently polled Smore users about their most pressing concern for back-to-school. By an overwhelming majority, the answer was student wellness. Understandable! Whatever your priority for the year is, make sure to introduce it in your welcome back letter, by way of helpful resources.

We've added a parent communication template and a Back-to-School SEL template, both full of practical advice.

3. A healthy dose of inspiration

All joking aside, back-to-school is a bittersweet time. Everyone is excited to see each other, get their rooms in tip top shape, and, most of all, welcome students. At the same time, it's hard to say farewell to summer. So, make sure to find ways to inspire--whether it's with quotes, photos, memes, or even a Welcome Back playlist!

Your team will feel the love and it will tip the balance towards excitement. Happy Back-to-School!