E-mail service putting North parents in the loop
December 19, 2001
For Bloomington High School North parents who hear "nothing" when they ask their children what is happening at school, there is a new option.
Parents can now receive daily announcements by e-mail on such vital issues as deadlines for scholarships, availability of ISTEP scores and times and locations for choir, band and athletics events.
The e-mail system will also provide emergency warnings on school closings and other sudden events.
The e-mails are sent early each weekday morning thanks to Debbie Wahlen, a parent who organized the system and spends time each day editing material from school staff and sending out the e-mail.
"It's definitely needed," Wahlen said. "I can't think of a more rewarding way to do volunteer work."
Wahlen also organized e-mail announcements at Binford-Rogers Elementary and Tri-North Middle schools when her daughter Jessica attended those schools. At both schools, others have since taken on the duty of sending out the e-mails, Wahlen said, and several other local schools are exploring the addition of daily e-mail announcements.
North principal Sarah Franklin said the e-mail system is one of many ways the school communicates with parents but is particularly useful because it is daily, while newsletters and parent meetings occur only once a month.
In two months, more than 400 parents have signed up to receive the e-mails.
"As parents, we often don't get the full 'skinny' from our wonderful adolescents," said Susan Sandberg, parent of a North freshman. "This is a truly useful service."
Anyone who would like to begin receiving the e-mails should send an e-mail message to majordomo@mccsc.edu, leave the subject box empty and type "subscribe bhsnlist" in the message.
Wahlen encourages parents of eighth-graders who will attend North next year to begin receiving the e-mails this year so they can become familiar with the school. Anyone who has trouble signing up can send her an e-mail at dwahlen@juno.com.
Source: http://www.hoosiertimes.com/
By Doug Wilson, Herald-Times Staff Writer