This procedure is applicable to: All Parents

AUTHORISED BY: School Leadership Team

DATE: as from September 2023

GUIDELINES FOR PARENT COMMUNICATION

Mosta Primary School recognises that online communication is widely used across our society, especially since the onset of COVID. Staff members are provided with official email accounts and Class Teams.

Due to the amounts of messages being received daily by the educators, a set of guidelines for both parents and staff on how to use TEAMS & emails appropriately are being issued. Teachers cannot teach and reply messages simultaneously. Teachers are being contacted constantly during school hours and late after school. This IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!  

Teams is to be used ONLY in relation to education.

Any communication between teachers and parents should be through email, or as notes in hard copy. Any communication between LSEs and parents should be through the communication book. Day-to-day matters such as who will be picking up the child after school, or whether your child will be attending Klabb 3–16 or not and if using transport or not must be communicated through notes in hard copy and by email on mrc.mosta.pra@ilearn.edu.mt. Parents may also opt to call the school.

PROTOCOLS FOR TEACHER/KGE/LSE AND PARENT COMMUNICATION

·       Parents can only use the school system provided email account for communications with staff (mrc.mosta.pra@ilearn.edu.mt) and write in Subject field Attn: Ms./Mr. ——-

·       Contentious, emotional or highly confidential issues are always best discussed face to face or virtually. Use the school generic email account (mrc.mosta.pra@ilearn.edu.mt) to request a meeting.

·       Be mindful of the appropriateness of your email content.

·       Messages to parents need to be consistent with professional practices for other correspondence. This includes grammar, format and salutation.

·       If you choose to send an email message to a staff member, you will receive a timely response, however it may not be immediate, and it may not be via a return email.

·       Your child’s teacher holds your child’s well-being and your concerns with the utmost care and respect. Ensure all correspondence with your child’s teacher reflects your own care and respect so that healthy outcomes for all can be achieved.

·       Use email for non-vital or non-urgent messages only. The staff member may not receive an email message by the end of the school day. Thus, your message may not be received in a timely manner.

·       For vital and urgent messages please use the telephone to contact the office and leave a message with the receptionist:

o   25986600 (Main School)

o   25986810 (Kindergarten Annexe)

·       For regular communication the communication book [for LSEs] and notebook [for teachers] will be used as per previous years.

·       Confidential information is best conveyed by personal contact.

·       Care should be given when using student names. Refer to students by first name, initials or your son/daughter depending on the content. Do not discuss non-related students.

Always avoid:

·       Initiating an email or responding to one if you are feeling emotional or “triggered”.

·       Any discussion or personal information related to other students, parents or staff members.

Communication on Teams can be used for:

·       General information such as: class activities, curriculum, projects, deadlines and special events.

·       A virtual meeting should be requested through email and not from Teams.

·       The Chat function will no longer be used for communicating with educators