Onsted High School

Communication Plan

Mission of the
Onsted Community Schools
To engage the community in
providing a quality educational
environment which promotes
successful lifelong learning for our
students, staff, and community."
In the accomplishment of this mission our
actions will reflect these values:
Integrity, Responsibility, Loyalty,
Respect, Dedication, and Pride

Communication is the
lifeblood of a school
organization.
(How to Develop a Communications/School-Community Relations Plan, Julia Ballenger)

It will become increasingly important to

develop a structured, comprehensive, and
strategic communications plan that enables
diverse audiences to understand the
struggles of the District in a way that forces
education issues to become community
issues - not just District issues.
Fern Tiger Associates, 2005

Communications about school programs

and student progress are not only from
school to home but also include two-way,
three-way, and many-way channels of
communication that connect schools,
families, students, and the community.
(Partnership-2000 Schools Manual, Epstein)

The Research Says

Partnerships tend to decline across grade levels UNLESS schools

purposefully work to develop and implement partnership practices (including
communication).
Just about all families want to see their children succeed and are eager to
obtain better information from schools so as to remain good partners in their
childrens education.
Just about all students at all levels want their families to be more
knowledgeable partners about schooling and are willing to take active roles
in assisting communications between home and school.
Unless schools specifically organize to accommodate single parents, fathers,
distant parents, & employed parents, their participation activities with the
school (including active communication) will falter.

Communication Assessment

Communication status & needs assessment via survey

Feedback regarding Honeywell Instant Alert

Feedback regarding District & building web pages
Feedback regarding Home Access
Feedback regarding Office Personnel
Feedback regarding Teaching Staff

Community members, parents, students, or teachers can

provide feedback on any event through our website.

Planning

The OHS Communication Plan serves to develop understanding of and support

for Onsted High School and its population through planned interactions and
communications with staff members, students, parents, and the community.
The Communication Plan will be reviewed annually by the staff, School
Improvement committee, and administrative team.
Well-developed communication practices are in place throughout the OHS
school community and are identified as key mechanisms of accomplishing our
mission.
Good communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, are at the hub of these
goals.
The staff, along with parents, community members and business partners
developed the schools vision and mission statements.
Staff members, parents, and community members were involved in writing the
schools strategic plan that includes communication and parental involvement
throughout.

Objectives and Goals

Objective 1: To Improve Internal Communication
Objective 2: To Improve Internal/External Communication
Objective 3: To Improve Student Internal/External Communication
Objective 4: To Celebrate and Recognize Student Achievement
Objective 5: To Improve Methods that Elicit Feedback from our
School Community

Objective 1: To Improve Internal Communication

Plan of Action:
Daily Announcements over P.A. system and on building web pages morning and afternoon
Staff Meetings bi-monthly
Department Meetings as needed
Data Analysis Team Meetings as needed
Data Analysis In-service - building level as needed
O.H.S. Staff Handbook to publish school policies and procedures annually
New Teacher Orientation provided by Administration to introduce new staff members to the school and
districts policies and procedures annually
In-Service Meetings may be building, subject, or district wide as needed
Professional journals (Educational Leadership) distributed to teacher leaders monthly
Big Four Meetings (principals and counselors) weekly
District Motivational Meeting at opening of school annually
Electronic Mail and Internet Access daily
Administrators cell phone daily
District & School Web Site as needed
Online Surveys to provide feedback as needed
Secretarial and Support Staff Meetings quarterly
Press Releases as needed

Objective 2: To Improve Internal/External Communication

Plan of Action:
Electronic Mail, Internet Access daily
District & School Web Site ongoing
District Newsletter bi-monthly
Open House & Honors Night annually
Home Access (grade viewer) daily
Student Grade Cards issued at the close of each trimester
Parent-Teacher Conferences 3 times a year
Conferences (scheduled & impromptu) as needed
Letters, Certified Mail as needed
Individual Education Plans annually with periodic evaluation and revision as needed
Disciplinary Referrals- in a timely manner by phone, conferences, letters as needed
Guidance Office Program financial aid workshops annually
Class/Course Objectives parent letter, syllabi, etc. annually
NWEA generates comprehensive data report on student progress- bi-annually
School Play & Spring Musical open to public annually
O.A.C. Dinner annually
Freshman Orientation annually
Scrolling Marquee on corner ongoing

Objective 3: To Improve Student Internal/External Communication

Plan of Action:
Performing Arts - performances and competitions active all year
OHS Athletics daily
Academic Recognition Assembly monthly
Service Projects initiated through classrooms and clubs as needed
OHS Course Description Guide annually
OHS Newspapers bi-weekly
OHS Yearbook annually
Electronic Mail and Internet Access daily
Home Access (grade viewer) daily
Culminating Activities (Entrepreneur Day, Talent Show, Senior 7th) annually
Career Exploration, Shadowing, and E.D.P.s annually
Blood Drive 3 times per year
Red Ribbon Week Assembly (SADD) annually
Student Government ongoing
Leadership Retreat available to all Student Council Members annually

Objective 4: To Celebrate and Recognize Student Achievement

Plan of Action:

Academic Recognition Assemblies monthly

Students of the Month

(Bd. of Education Recognition) monthly

Honors Night and Awards Program annually

Honor Roll after each trimester

Highlight improvements in student data from NWEA,

PSAT, PLAN, and ACT Scores ongoing

Objective 5: To Improve Methods that Elicit Feedback from our School Community
Plan of Action:
Permit the community to engage in shared analysis and conscientious decision-making through
participation in school surveys and the community school improvement committee. ongoing
Assess and act upon the results of school surveys and school improvement committee
recommendationsusing the results for continual improvement. ongoing
Present opportunities that allow community members to take an active role in building a school
climate that displays fairness and democracy through welcomed drop in visits, frequent
communication, and engaging activities. ongoing
Utilize our school website to invite feedback from our school community. ongoing
Analyze the enthusiasm with which the community participates with other members, groups,
organizations, and programs through links on webpage, sign in sheets in the front office, and
acknowledgment of participation at various events. ongoing
Sustain an open mind and be ever attentive in observing the pulse of the school; being ready to
adjust communication plan procedures or actions through informal conversations and
conscientious interactions. ongoing

District Website Review

http://www.onsted.k12.mi.us

Guidelines for Effective

Internal/External Communication
Whether one intends to communicate something positive or share a concern,
it is important to have a clear understanding of the issue. (Diocese of Joliet Plan)
Defining the issue:

Review the facts, experiences, and circumstances of the issue

Evaluate and consider every conceivable cause

Decide who is involved in the issue
Decide what resolution can be achieved
Keep the proper perspective. Wait 24 hours before making an
appointment to allow the emotions of the situation to dissipate

Guidelines for Effective

Internal/External Communication
Concerns dealing with:

Should initially involve:

If not resolved, who to involve next:

Students
performance

Student

His/her teacher

Teacher

Involved teacher

Principal

Unfair
Discipline

Person who disciplined

the child

The persons supervisor

Specific classroom
assignments

Teacher

Principal

School rule or procedures

Principal

Superintendent

Principal

Superintendent

School Board

School Board Policy

Principal

Superintendent

School of Choice Marketing Plan

Beginning in May 2008, the Board of Education will
commit to a marketing plan for the Onsted
Community Schools.
In an effort to attract increasing numbers of schoolof-choice students, the Making the Right Choice
committee will be formed of community members,
staff, parents, and students.
Up to one F.T.E. will be spent on billboard, radio,
and newspaper ads, and informational brochures.

Community Mapping

Spreading the good news about

Onsted Community Schools through
increased outreach and community
engagement via conversations with
community groups and the media.

Evaluating the Communication Plan

Evaluation of our communication efforts tells us if we are getting our
messages out clearly and to the right audience. (Porterfield & Carnes)

The communication plan is reviewed annually by the staff,

Community School Improvement Committee, and the Admin. Team

Community members and/or parents make random, periodic visits,
and complete a survey regarding the school.
Community members, parents, students or teachers may give
feedback on any event through our website.
School report card surveys are administered to parents, staff, and
students each year.
The results of the report card surveys are distributed to staff,
Community School Improvement Committee, and the Admin. Team.

Bibliography
CHS Communication Plan 08-09. Retrieved March 8, 2009, from Chapman High School Web site:
http://www.spart1.org/chs/about/Communication%20Plan/CHS%20Communication%20Plan%2008-09.doc

Diocese of Joliet F.O.C.U.S. Plan. Retrieved March 1, 2009, from Diocese of Joliet Website:
http://www.ascacademy.org/uploads/media/F_O_C_U_S_Booklet_.pdf
Epstein, J.L. (1995).School/Family/Community Partnerships: Caring For the Children We Share. Phi Delta
Kappan. 76, 701-12.
Herrold, K., ODonnell, K. (2008). Parent Involvement in Education, 2006-07 School Year, From the
National Household Education Surveys Program of 2007. (Report No. NCES 2008-050).Jessup, MD:
National Center for Educational Statistics. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED502237).
Retrieved from ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) database.
Johns Hopkins University. (1996). Partnership-2000 Schools Manual J.L. Epstein.
One Clear Voice Communication Plan. Retrieved March 7, 2009, from San Leandro Unified School District
Web site: http://www.sanleandro.k12.ca.us/pdfs/board/reports/communications_presentation_011707.pdf
Porterfield, K., & Carnes, M. (2008). Why School Communication Matters: Strategies From PR
Professionals. Lanham: Rowan & Littlefield.

QUESTIONS?

COMMENTS?