Communications and Branding

Monthly newsletters containing "Instagram Resources" are distributed with upcoming theme days and recognitions, trending items, tips & tricks, and social media shoutouts. To be added to the distribution list, contact a member of the communications team. 

A one of a kind logo

Below are district-approved designs of the Stillwater Area Public Schools' Pony logo and "Stillwater Area Public Schools" text. If an individual or organization is searching for a different file type (such as .ai or .eps), please email Jennifer Paulson at paulsonj@stillwaterschools.org.

This logo may not be doctored or modified in any way and cannot be used as an endorsement or promotion without school district approval.

Newsletters are one of the best ways to connect with families and let them know what's happening in the classroom. So what should be included to create an engaging classroom or school newsletter? Check out the outlines below!

Classroom Newsletter Outline

Teachers should plan to send a weekly classroom or grade level newsletter to families on Sunday afternoons. Things to include could be: 

• "Peek at the Week" including the specialist schedule, field trips, etc.
• Photos of students engaged in learning
• Calendar of coming classroom events
• The week's learning plan: Math, literacy, etc.
• Conversation starters for families: Questions or topics to ask students about

School Newsletter Outline 

Hold a conversational tone for engagement, but don't make families dig for information. Be direct, concise, and make it easy for families to find what they need for the week ahead. School newsletters are expected to be shared on Friday afternoons, and can include items such as: 

• Top things to know this week
• Photos of the week's activities
• A look ahead at required sign-ups: Field trips, yearbook orders, volunteering
• Staff spotlight 
• Calendar of upcoming events
• School-wide info such as media center returns, theme days, or outdoor clothing preparation
• Social media spotlight and direct links: For applicable schools

Messaging Tips 

• Use BrightArrow in PowerSchool to text families a link to e-newsletters
• Update the "From" and subject line sections. It defaults to "A message from Stillwater Area Public Schools" on every message.
• Be sure to always select the "Translate" text box when sending email or text messages to send in the family's preferred language.

There are many wonderful things happening in classrooms every day — stories to share with the greater community. But too many go by without anyone knowing they ever happened. We want to change that!

So, what makes a good story?

• Specific school, department/grade or classroom activities that differ from a “regular” school day. Are students doing a hands-on project? Are they working in groups? Are they using technology? Is there participation from parents, community members or guest speakers?
• Use of new equipment or technology designed to enhance student learning
• Specialized training for teachers or students (conferences, workshops, etc.)
• Human interest stories involving students, staff and/or family members
• Has a student overcome an obstacle to find success? Has a special teacher made a real difference in the life of a child? Did a staff member go out of their way to give students a better educational experience? Is a class or club collaborating to support a worthy cause?
• Outstanding student or staff achievement/recognition
• Creating a new academic or extracurricular program
• Events that benefit or are of interest to the community

When in doubt, share anyway by completing the form below. Please provide as much information as possible; if more detail is needed, someone from the communications office will reach out. Some stories are shared with local media outlets (print, radio and TV), as well as published on the district website and/or shared through other district channels (Facebook, Instagram, Community Connections mailer). Exceptional story ideas are considered for video features and district and/or school newsletters.

Who: First and last names of the people involved (students, staff, notable guests); for entire classes or grades, “Mrs. Smith’s class” or “the 5th grade” will suffice.
What: Describe the story with specific details
Why: How did this come about
Where: For upcoming events; please provide exact location, including school and room number
When: For upcoming events; please include date and start/end times

Photo and/or Video: Please submit a clear, non-blurry photo and/or video clip. (10 MB Max)  Make sure you have permission to share the image from the people in the photos as well as the photographer.

Connect on social media platforms! Official district accounts can be found at the links below:

Follow our schools! New Instagram accounts include: 

Afton-Lakeland Elementary: @aftonlakeland.834
Andersen Elementary: @andersen.834
Brookview Elementary: @brookview.834
Lake Elmo Elementary: @lakeelmo.834
Community Education: @stillwatercommed

The communications staff is always excited to visit schools to capture events, learning, and activities, however they can't be at every school, every day.

Staff that send even three to five photos or video clips of an activity goes a long way in helping showcase all that is happening in Stillwater Schools! Send the best handful that highlights the activity to the communications office to share, highlight a student with a spotlight, or participate in a trendy reel.

Tips to Take Better Photos and Videos

• Have a Plan: This includes knowing to shoot in portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) mode. Shooting photos or videos vertically is best for Instagram and Facebook, while horizontal is best for YouTube, the website, or presentations.
• Check the "No Photo" List: Some students cannot be photographed because they are on a "No Photo List", meaning they have not granted consent to be shared in photos and videos online. Make sure you know who these students are by checking with the school's secretary.
• Forget the Zoom: Avoid pixelated photo and videos by physically moving closer to the action rather than using your camera's zoom feature.
• Keep it Steady: Grab a tripod or find a table, book, or chair to stabilize a phone on.
• Record Great Audio: Make sure you're close to what sound you want to record or in a quiet space. Bad audio = bad video.
• Tuck Your Arms: When holding your camera or phone, tucking your elbows in and keeping the camera close to your body helps stabilize it.
• Know Your Settings: Learn how to lock your focus and dial in exposure for the best lighting.
• Avoid the Sun: Avoid putting subjects against bright backgrounds like windows or the sun. This leaves them in the shadow, while putting them in direct sunlight might be blown out and too bright to see what's going on. Indirect sunlight is your best friend!
• Movement is Key: Steady shots are important, but adding a little movement, such as a slow pan side to side, can make a simple shot interesting and keep audiences engaged.

Remember that a variety of content is helpful - short videos for the Instagram stories or "Behind the Scenes", still photos for an Instagram or Facebook post, or a trendy audio for a Reel. Need some help? Let the communications team know of upcoming events or activities!

Sharing Content

• Utilize the Collaboration Feature: On Instagram, accounts have the option to "Invite a Collaborator" on a post. This allows the same post to also be shared to the district's followers and a wider audience. When publishing a post, do this on the same page where there is the option to "tag" an account.

• Tag the District: In Instagram stories or on Facebook posts, be sure to tag the district so that it's easy to reshare to a wider audience! Keep in mind, tagging the district's @stillwater834 is the only way for the district account to reshare an Instagram story.

• Avoid Graphics, Screenshots, or Collages: There are a lot of ways to make an announcement or reminder without using a Canva graphic in a post! If more info is needed, share across Instagram stories, or add an infographic to a story with a link to more. Keep in mind that Instagram is a photo/video platform, so use it as such!

• Avoid Links in Posts: People can't click links in Instagram posts. Rather than adding a link to a sign-up in the post caption, share a post in an Instagram story and use the "Link" sticker - this way people can access it directly by clicking.

• Shorten URL Links on Facebook: For those who manage Facebook pages, adding a URL link to a post is an easy and direct way to get families to sign up, register, or find more information. Be sure to use a link shortener such as Bitly, to add links without bogging down the post with a long URL. 

• Keep Caption Easy to Read: Limit hashtags or emojis to two per post to make captions clean and concise. 

• Don't Sacrifice Quality for Quantity: Aim for two posts per week when starting out, then begin scheduling ahead, and adding quick Instagram stories to round out regular content.

StillwaterSchools.org Updates