Plum School District has launched an interactive monthly newsletter designed to promote positivity and highlight students and staff.
The inaugural issue of PlumIS was revealed this month. It’s posted on the front page of district’s website, pbsd.net, and emailed to parents registered on the district’s student database.
The newsletter was created by Charlene Payne, district communications specialist and executive assistant to the superintendent, with the assistance of district educational technology and innovation Director Daniel Lauletta.
“It’s something that we always wanted to do,” Payne said. “It’s sharing all the good things going on in Plum and shouting it as loud as we can … I love the design part. I like to hear the stories and good things that are going in within the district and share it with the community. It’s a great place to raise a kid.”
The newsletter has links to various parts of the district’s website that correspond with information on the newsletter’s pages.
Among the stories featured was one about seniors Elsa Van Beek and Jonah Albert, creators of a short-story printer. The printer allows any student to randomly retrieve short stories and age-appropriate jokes during any time of the school day.
The March issue also highlighted Center Grows, a student-run agricultural business at Center Elementary.
Payne said the newsletter is free to Plum parents and made at no cost to the district other than time to input information and design the pages.
PlumIS posted the first week of the month, and so far, the feedback has all been positive.
“It’s pretty cool,” school board President Scott Coulson. “I like things like that because it’s well done, and there are interesting stories that not everybody may know about.”
The next issue is expected to feature high school interns in the district’s technology department.
