Summer really flew by! The first day of school is no longer a distant speck on the horizon—it’s here, right in front of us. Summer was the time to plan content for the 2023-24 school year. Now, it’s time to start putting those plans in motion.

Before students return to the classroom, make sure everything is crossed off your communication to-do list and ready to go.

Gear up for the new school year

The first day of school will be here before you know it. Don’t let it catch you off guard! District leaders need to start getting into the school mindset. That way, when the doors open back up, you can hit the ground running and enjoy a great start to the school year.

There are a few things you can do to get your mind focused on the upcoming school year. Review your content calendar to make sure everything is in place. Double check the release dates for each piece of content and confirm that they’re accurate. At this point, all your content should be lined up and ready to roll out. When the school year begins, you’ll be right on schedule!

Start rolling out planned communications

The content has been written, recorded, filmed and finalized. Now for the exciting part: releasing it for the community to see. Stakeholders need to learn about events, deadlines and co-curricular opportunities long before they happen. Start spreading the word about things like back-to-school fairs, athletic tryouts, play auditions and parent-teacher conferences. The sooner you get the ball rolling, the greater turnout you’ll have at these events.

Of course, planned communications go far beyond boosting the attendance rate at school functions. You should also get a head start on informing the community about big changes that are in store for this school year. Tell them about the referendum that’s going to be on the ballot. Introduce them to a new principal, teacher, administrator or board member. Stakeholders should be informed about changes well in advance.

The start of the school year heralds many exciting events and changes for your community. Now is the time to start talking about them. Review your content one last time, then begin the process of putting it out there. A great school year starts with great communication!