PGCPS Pre-Labor Day Start Communications Campaign

Project Overview

Oversee and support Prince George County Public Schools' communications related to the district's transition to a pre-Labor Day start beginning with the 2023-24 School Year.

Background

During the Fall of 2021, Prince George County Public Schools began exploring the feasibility of shifting to a pre-Labor Day start to the school year for the school division. The district determined community feedback, including town halls and surveys, would be needed as they moved through the fact-finding process.

Following a one-year delay in the transition, the Prince George School Board voted in November 2022 to proceed with a pre-Labor Day start to the school year, beginning with the upcoming 2023-24 School Year.

Planning

Coinciding with the Prince George School Board's action to approve a pre-Labor Day start to the school year, the Communications and Public Relations Office led by Michael Campbell began drafting plans regarding a multifaceted, multi-month communications campaign to remind families of the upcoming school year's August start date.

This communications plan centered around using the division's assets to effectively reach its audiences with information ahead of the start of the 2023-24 School Year, including:

• Media Releases
• Internal Communications
• Digital & Social Media
• School & Division Websites
• Automated Email/Phone Messaging System
• Online Student Information System

Implementation

On November 16, 2022, the Communications and Public Relations Office released a detailed article for families following the Prince George School Board's approval of the 2023-24 School Year calendar. This article provided links to the division's official calendar for the upcoming year and gave an overview of key dates for families to view at a glance. Click HERE to view the article on the division's website. 

During the division's Christmas break from the end of December 2022 into January 2023, the department created a series of social media posts encouraging families to view the school district's calendar. Click HERE to view an example of the social media posts made during this time.

Following the district's return to school in early January, the Communications and Public Relations Office drafted its first automated communication to families and staff regarding the upcoming school calendar. It served as a reminder that the calendar is available, provided links to printable documents, and noted that additional reminders would be shared in the coming weeks and months.

Following the Communications and Public Relations Office's presentation to the Prince George School Board on February 6, 2023, announcing the division's communications plans and intentions, a media release was shared with the division's media partners. Click HERE to view the division's media release.

Looking Ahead

Continued reminders via the division's Facebook page will be published alongside the district's regular content between now and the end of the current school year.

Additionally, the division's automated email/phone messaging system and student information system will be used for further reminders as the school year approaches its end, through the summer period into the beginning of August.