In our new school websites, it’s important to put the right kind of information
in the right place, and to do it consistently so that readers always know where
to find it (no matter which school site they’re looking at). Your new school
website has distinct places for news, events, and a blog: how can you decide
which of these to use in any given situation?
In the past, some schools, principals, and teachers have used a blog to
communicate a wide variety of information, including school news, events, and
reminders, as well as topics more closely related to the blogger. A blog is a
place to share your thoughts and ideas, but we have often called them all
“blogs” because they’re in a blog format. That’s a bit like calling something a
car just because it’s been kept in your garage. Sitting in a garage doesn’t mean
that your dog is a car, and being posted on a blog site doesn’t mean that your
announcements are blogs. To get it right, we need to focus on what it
is, not where it’s been kept.
News: “we’d like you to know…”
News should go into the News Centre page, and most of it
should also be displayed (temporarily) on the news sections on the home page
(“Spotlight” for newer or higher-profile news, “More News” for older or
lower-profile items). This includes announcements about activities at the
school, reminders about policy, highlighting upcoming events or reporting on
special events that have just happened. News has the most prominent place on the
home page, and so should showcase your most important or most time-sensitive
information.
Calendar: “be ready for…”
Upcoming events should go into the Calendar (Dates to
Remember), and will show up on the calendar page as well as the Dates to
Remember section of the home page. This can include everything from
non-instructional days to athletics events, exams, or parent-teacher
conferences. You can’t add events in the past – if you want to talk about an
event that’s already taken place (like how the drama performance last night was
a huge success) you can create a news story, instead.
Blog: “think
about…”
More personal opinions or messages from school leaders
should go into the Principal’s Message blog. This is the right place
for updates on professional development your teachers are engaged in, and how
that’s informing your teaching practice, or how your school’s focus on the
environment this year is impacting what you do with waste and recyclables from
lunchtimes, or why you’re emphasizing the value of respect this month and what
that looks like at your school. Usually, your blog should have content that’s
still relevant and engaging even months after it’s posted.
