SCHOOLMESSENGER TEMPLATES The Department of Communications and Community Engagement has developed templates for SchoolMessenger to offer suggestions for how to craft your messages for text, voice-recorded phone and e-mail notifications to your families. messages must be limited to 160 characters. To test how many characters are in your text message, please visit http://www.lettercount.com. New principal or administrator appointment Hello, this is a message for [SCHOOL NAME] families, informing you that [NAME] will serve as the interim principal for [OUTGOING PRINCIPAL NAME] beginning [DATE]. [NAME] will continue to build on the great work achieved by your outgoing principal, [NAME] who will serve as principal of [NEW SCHOOL NAME] effective [DATE]. Please join me in welcoming [NAME] to the new role, and wishing [NAME] the best of luck at [HIS/HER] new campus. Thank you and have a great day. E-mail message E-mail subject line: Message from [SCHOOL NAME] about New Principal Appointment Dear [SCHOOL NAME] families, This is an important message informing you that [NAME] will serve as the interim principal for [OUTGOING PRINCIPAL NAME] beginning [DATE]. [NAME] will continue to build on the great work achieved by your outgoing principal, [NAME] who will serve as principal of [NEW SCHOOL NAME] effective [DATE]. Please join me in welcoming [NAME] to the new role, and wishing [NAME] the best of luck at his/her new campus. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at [CONTACT NUMBER]. Thank you, [NAME OF PERSON WHO EMAIL IS FROM]
This message is to inform you that [SCHOOL NAME PRINCIPAL NAME] is taking a new position and [NAME] will serve as interim principal effective [DATE]. (149 characters) Welcome back to school message Hello, this is an important message for the [SCHOOL NAME] community. This is [PRINCIPAL NAME] calling to thank you for a great first day and to welcome you to the 201X-1X school year! Our families and staff members play a pivotal role in the success of our students. Please help ensure your student s success by making sure he or she comes to class on time and ready to learn everyday. Thank you for all you do for our school. Please contact me at [CONTACT NUMBER] if you have any questions or comments. Together, I know we will have a great school year! E-mail E-mail subject line: Welcome Back Message from [PRINCIPAL OR SCHOOL NAME] Dear [SCHOOL NAME] Families and Staff Members, I want to thank you for a great first day and welcome you to the 201X-1X school year! Our families and staff members play a pivotal role in the success of our students. Please help ensure your student s success by making sure he or she comes to class on time and ready to learn everyday. I also invite you to get to know your student s teachers, classmates and fellow parents at the upcoming Back-to-school night [DATE]. By building a campus community, you also are building your child s educational experience. Thank you for all you do for our school. Please contact me at XXX-XXXX if you have any questions or comments. Together, I know we will have a great school year! Sincerely, [PRINCIPAL NAME] This is [PRINCIPAL NAME] thanking [SCHOOL NAME] families and staff for a
great first day of school. Together, our work is working! (126 characters) Campus lockdown/shelter in place due to off-campus event Hello, this is an important message for the [SCHOOL NAME] community. This is [PRINCIPAL NAME] calling to inform you of an incident that occurred offcampus today but briefly impacted our school. We briefly placed the school on [LOCKDOWN MODE OR SHELTHER IN PLACE MODE] due to police activity near our campus. At no time do we believe any of our students or staff members were in any danger, and the school resumed regular operations once police concluded their investigation and determined the grounds around the school were safe. Safety is a top priority for our campus, and we appreciate your support of [SCHOOL NAME]. Please contact me at [CONTACT NUMBER] if you have any questions or concerns. E-mail message E-mail subject line: Important Message about Campus Incident Today Dear [SCHOOL NAME] Community, The safety of all students is our number one priority at [SCHOOL NAME]. With that in mind, I would like to inform you of an incident that occurred off-campus today, but briefly impacted our school. [SCHOOL NAME] was on [LOCKDOWN MODE OR SHELTHER IN PLACE MODE] for about [APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF TIME] today while police investigated a report of an armed suspect in the area. Police responded to the incident immediately and worked with campus administrators to help implement the campus safety plan to ensure the safety of students and staff members on campus. The school resumed regular operations once police concluded their investigation and determined the grounds around the school were safe. At no time do we believe any of our students or staff members were in any danger.
As always, we appreciate your support of [SCHOOL NAME]. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at [CONTACT NUMBER] Sincerely, [PRINCPAL NAME] [SCHOOL NAME] was on [lockdown mode] briefly because of police activity in the area. The school has resumed regular operations and the grounds are safe. (152 characters) Attempted Abduction Hello, this is an important message for the [SCHOOL NAME] Community. This is [PRINCIPAL NAME] calling to inform you of an incident that occurred offcampus today but briefly impacted our school. An unknown individual approached a student and allegedly attempted to lure the student into a vehicle. Fortunately, the student fled safely and immediately reported this information to school officials. Police are investigating the situation and have increased patrols in the area. I will continue to update you with information as needed. Safety is a top priority for our campus, and we appreciate your support of [SCHOOL NAME]. Please contact me at [CONTACT NUMBER] if you have any questions or concerns. E-mail message E-mail subject line: Important Message about Attempted Abduction Near Campus Dear [SCHOOL NAME] Community: The safety of all students is our number one priority at [SCHOOL NAME]. With that in mind, I would like to inform you of an incident that occurred off-campus today, but briefly impacted our school. An unknown individual approached a student and allegedly attempted to lure the student into a vehicle. Fortunately, the student fled safely and immediately reported this information to school officials.
We are grateful our student is safe, and we are asking parents to discuss safety tips with their child to help ensure their safety: Identify the location of safe homes or buildings in case a student needs to run to them. Identify which neighbors are available to help when parents are not at home. Advise your student to avoid alleys and empty lots, houses, or garages. Students should use direct routes between school and home when walking. Use the buddy system. There is usually more safety for children in groups. When visiting or playing with friends, always make sure an adult knows where the student is and carry a cell phone in case of an emergency, if age appropriate. Immediately report any suspicious behavior to a school official, parent or trusted adult. We appreciate your support as we work together to ensure each child s safety and security at and around our school. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at [CONTACT NUMBER]. Sincerely, [PRINCIPAL NAME] : A student reported an attempted abduction near [CAMPUS NAME]. Fortunately, the student fled safely. Police are investigating and have increased patrols. (152 characters) Death of Student Hello, this is an important message for the [SCHOOL NAME] Community. This is [PRINCIPAL NAME] calling to sadly inform you of the death of one of our [STUDENTS OR STAFF], [STUDENT OR STAFF NAME], who passed away [DATE]. Our hearts go out to [HIS/HER] family and friends at this time of loss.
I do not have details about a memorial or burial service. However, more information should be available at the school office [GIVE APPROXIMATE TIME]. We will be providing counseling support for students and staff during this difficult time. If you feel that you or your child needs to talk with someone further or needs additional support or resources, please do not hesitate to call me at [CONTACT NUMBER] for assistance. E-mail Message E-mail subject line: Important Message from [PRINCIPAL NAME] about [STUDENT OR STAFF] Passing Dear [SCHOOL NAME] Community: It is with sadness and regret that I inform you of the death of one of our [STUDENTS OR STAFF], [STUDENT OR STAFF NAME], who passed away [DATE]. Our hearts go out to [HIS/HER] family and friends at this time of loss. At this time, I do not have details about a memorial or burial service. However, more information should be available at the school office [GIVE APPROXIMATE TIME]. We will be providing counseling support for the [SCHOOL NAME] community during this difficult time. If you feel that you or your child needs to talk with someone further or needs additional support or resources, please do not hesitate to call me at [CONTACT NUMBER] for assistance. With deepest sympathies, [PRINCIPAL NAME] Principal It is recommended that text messaging not be used to distribute messages of this nature. Bomb Threat Hello, this is an important message for the [SCHOOL NAME] Community. This is [PRINCIPAL NAME] calling to inform you of an incident that briefly
impacted our school. Today, the campus received a bomb threat. While it was of questionable credibility, out of due caution, we took this threat seriously and immediately notified police. Students and staff members were immediately evacuated from the campus, and police performed a thorough search of our school with bombdetecting dogs. Police determined the campus was safe, and students were allowed to resume the instructional day. At this time, there is no information to indicate that our students or staff members were in danger. Please contact me at {CONTACT NUMBER] if you have any questions. Thank you. E-mail message E-mail subject line: Important Message from [PRINCIPAL NAME] about Bomb Threat at Campus Today Dear [SCHOOL NAME] Community: The safety of all students is our number one priority at [SCHOOL NAME]. With that in mind, I would like to inform you of an incident that briefly impacted our school. Today, the campus received a bomb threat. While it was of questionable credibility, out of due caution, we took this threat seriously and immediately notified police. Students and staff members were immediately evacuated from the campus, and police performed a thorough search of our school with bombdetecting dogs. After police determined the campus was safe, students were allowed to return to their classes and resume the instructional day. At this time, there is no information to indicate that [SCHOOL NAME] students or staff members were in danger. Please feel free to contact me directly with questions, information and concerns that you may have. Thank you for your commitment to keeping our campus safe. Sincerely, [PRINCIPAL NAME] [CONTACT NUMBER]
A bomb threat was made today at [SCHOOL NAME.] Students and staff were briefly evacuated and allowed to return after police determined the campus was safe. (156 characters)