Dear Warwick students, staff, parents and community

#TheirFuture
Communications Plan
Dear Warwick students, staff, parents and community,
The Warwick Valley Central School District has begun planning for “#TheirFuture” by revisiting our
mission statement and strategic goals.
Throughout New York, school districts find themselves in a persistently reactive mode to state and
federal mandates and political pressures. This approach leads to, at best, fractured improvement
efforts. #TheirFuture will accelerate improvement efforts as we will become more strategic and
intentional, while constantly adjusting as we choose the initiatives that will have the greatest positive
impact on student learning.
#TheirFuture is about the future of every student in the Warwick Valley Central School District. It’s an
initiative that will thoughtfully, and with the support of the community, help determine what a Warwick
education could and should look like. What do our children need during their time in Warwick schools
to be well-prepared for their future?
As we enter this exciting period of growth and change, a review of our strategic goals is essential. The
Board of Education will strive to create strategic goals that are aligned with the community’s vision of
“great learning for each student.”
The #TheirFuture initiative is a multi-faceted effort that will take place over the next 18+ months. It will
allow us to imagine, design and implement innovative programs and align resources accordingly.
Most importantly, it will help us to better prepare all students for their future.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Leach
Superintendent of Schools
Warwick Valley Central School District
Seeds of Learning
Calendar
Communications goals
The communication goals of #TheirFuture are to:
 Inform the broader Warwick community of the initiative
 Maximize participation among all district stakeholders
 Provide frequent updates so community members are attuned to the process and the
progress
 Garner support and create ownership among community members for the educational
direction set forth by the district for its future
Communications tools
Communications tools to be considered for gathering input from the community and
keeping the community informed:
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Social Media: Facebook, Twitter
District Website – special section devoted to #TheirFuture
E-Backpack: add link to #TheirFuture website updates
Workshops/Seminars/Information Nights/Focus Groups
Press releases: Warwick Advertiser, Warwick Dispatch, Chester Chronicle
Bulletin board applications, e.g., Linoit. Community responses added to the bulletin
board in the form of sticky notes. Videos and photos can also be shared here. Share via
URL, link, or embedded into district website.
Short videos starring teachers, students, parents
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Analysis and Planning
GOALS: Inform, maximize participation, provide updates, garner support and create ownership
Objective
Output
● Introduce the
#TheirFuture
initiative to
students, and
provide updates
on progress
● Create and implement promotional
materials designed for students
● Introduce the
#TheirFuture
initiative to staff,
and provide
updates on
progress
● Create and implement informational
materials
Target
Strategies
Audience
● #TheirFuture: a way
● WVCSD
students at to have student voices
all grade
heard and their
levels
ideas about education
count
● Enlist WVHS
Leadership
Academy;
brainstorm ideas
● Enlist students to
participate in the
making of short
videos as an effective
way to communicate
ideas
● Consider classroom
or homework
assignments about
such things as: future
of education, job
market
● WVCSD
Staff
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● Staff newsletter?
Provide updates via
email from
Superintendent on a
regular basis
Outcome
● Enthusiasm for
#TheirFuture among
WVCSD students
● At least 50
percent
participation of
students in grades
K-12
● Teachers/staff more
informed, eager to
participate and share
ideas
● 100 percent
participation at some
level of all staff
● Introduce the
#TheirFuture
initiative to
parents, and
provide updates on
progress
● Create and implement informational
● Parents of
materials designed for parents:
WVCSD
social media posts, a section of the district students
website for #TheirFuture materials,
including short videos, parent
“assignments,” upcoming events, etc.
● Use Facebook,
Twitter, SNN, posters,
fliers, etc., at school
events, homework
assignments to
introduce parents to,
and inform them about,
#TheirFuture on a
regular basis
● Parent input is critical
● Parent stakeholder
group - opinions
matter, they have a
stake in their child’s
educational future
● Stakeholders who,
because they have
contributed to it in a
significant way, take
proud ownership of the
district’s “North Star”
● Parents and district
leadership ‘on the
same page’
● A community that is
informed of the
necessary critical shift
in educational direction
underway in their
school district
● Community that
understands the
direction in which the
district is going
● Introduce the
#THEIRFUTURE
initiative to
community
members, and
provide updates
on progress
● Create, implement informational
materials for the public: social media
posts, on the district website, etc.
● Press Releases
● Regular articles on district website
● Invitations to participate in any
community
forums/workshops/informational nights
about #TheirFuture
● Residents ● Community input is
and business critical; suggestions are
owners in
valuable
the Warwick
community
● Maximize
participation in
#TheirFuture
among all
stakeholders
● Launch bulletin board on website for
student, parent and community member
participation
● Invite participation at community
forums/workshops/informational
nights
● Students,
staff,
parents,
community
members
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● Update bulletin board ● More participation =
on website so everyone better outcome
can see responses to
questions in sticky-note
format
Implementation and timeline

FEBRUARY: Build on the successful input-gathering in November of WVCSD staff,
by:
o Gathering feedback from parents, community and students:
 Website article introducing the initiative
 Link to website article on Facebook and Twitter
 Letter, Article sent via SNN to parents
 Implement: Gather inputs from parents/community members
 Implement: Gather inputs from students
 Implement: Feedback inputs shared with community
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FEBRUARY/MARCH: Share feedback inputs with the community:
o Following methods of sharing/updating:
 Website
 Press Release to local newspapers
 Facebook/Twitter:
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APRIL: Update community on process and progress:
o Website/Facebook/Twitter:
 Article – Subject: Next Steps
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MAY: Update community on process and progress:
o Website/Facebook/Twitter:
 Article – Subject: Validation of North Star.
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JUNE: Update community on process and progress:
o Website/Facebook/Twitter:
 Article – Subject: Explain prototyping concept, process and progress
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