How to Make the Most of Your Welcome Back Letter

By Dr. Kara Stern • 2 min

Absenteeism,Attendance,Communication,Community Building,Engagement,Family Engagement,Principal,Technology

It’s true—emails with “welcome” in the subject line have significantly higher open rates than any other type. This makes back-to-school welcome letters to families and teams some of the most crucial communications principals and superintendents send all year. With this added attention, here’s how to make these emails even more impactful.

1. Start with Key Information

Most people (85% and climbing) read emails on their mobile phones, which means they’re likely skimming. Lead with the essentials—like dates, locations, and anything they need to bring. Use clear headers to guide their eyes to the most important information.

2. Inspire Your Audience

Back-to-school season is a mix of excitement and anxiety. Teachers are eager to meet students, parents are relieved to get back into routine, and students look forward to reconnecting with friends. But it’s also a high-stress time, especially for those with attendance challenges. Try adding an inspiring quote, a playlist, a back-to-school newsletter, or even a small challenge with a fun reward to help ease the nerves and build positive momentum.

3. Offer Resources (Illumination)

Everyone appreciates a helpful resource, especially during busy times. Share a blog post on easing into school routines or an article on building strong family-school connections. SchoolStatus Connect provides a range of editable, digital newsletter templates, making it easy to reach families in 130+ languages.

Happy back-to-school season!

Dr. Kara Stern
Director, Education and Engagement

Dr. Kara Stern began her career as an ELA teacher, then shifted into administration as a middle school principal. Dr. Stern is a fervent advocate for equitable communication and family engagement. She spent five years as Executive Director at Math for America, where she designed the professional learning community that exists to this day. An unexpected move to Tel Aviv launched her into the world of EdTech where she became the Director of Education Content for Smore and then the Head of Content at SchoolStatus. Outside of work, she indulges her love for reading, devouring two novels weekly, with a particular fondness for heists and spy stories.