eNews How To

Each PTA publishes a periodic – usually weekly – eNewsletter for the parents of their students, as well as for their teachers and staff.  The PTA eNews is predominantly information about School-, PTA-, or Community activities.

More Info: https://ptac.paloaltopta.org/pta-communication-guidelines/


WHO CREATES CONTENT?

At most of our sites, it’s a team effort:

  • PTA activities: the PTA President, other Board members, Chairs contribute content
  • School activities: Principal, teachers, staff, counselors may contribute content
  • PTA Council and Community activities: PTA Council eNews editor will contribute. Refer to https://ptac.paloaltopta.org/pta-communication-guidelines

Some PTAs use a shared Google Doc where contributors write in their articles. This method is helpful if a contributor wants to start writing their article ahead of time and and it keeps a master log of all contributions.

Other PTAs ask their contributors to submit their articles via email.

TIP: Each Board/eNews crew should create a consistent schedule of submission due dates, rough draft proofreads, and publishing day/time.


FROM A PILE OF CONTENT TO A NEWSLETTER

The PTA VP Comm and/or an assigned eNews editor(s)

  1. assembles articles into one file
  2. formats, proofreads, and edits for accuracy, clarity, consistency – please keep in mind that your audience of parents may be English Language Learners
  3. upload into ParentSquare, if working in Google doc
  4. double-checks images show up correctly
  5. double-checks links work properly
  6. Publishes the eNews or schedule its publishing

TIP: It is a good idea to have 2-3 people conduct steps 3, 4, and 5, with one of those people being the PTA President and possibly another the Principal.

Each Board/eNews crew should create a consistent schedule of submission due dates, proofread period, and publishing day/time.


How to publish the eNews in ParentSquare:
* ParentSquare Guide: Post
* Create a ParentSquare Post: Youtube video


WHO RECEIVES THE ENEWS?

When using ParentSquare, ALL parents receive the eNews.

Every Child. One Voice. Welcome to the website of the Palo Alto Council of PTAs. Our purpose is to foster collaboration, conduct leadership training, and coordinate the efforts of our site PTAs. This website is intended to be a resource for our PTAs to accomplish their Mission.