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Communication and public relations
The communication and public relations department promotes communication as a vehicle to build trust with Anoka-Hennepin communities, confidence in the district and its schools, and support for providing a high quality education for all students. All district employees, regardless of their job, share a role in communicating information about the district and/or their school as they interact with students, parents/guardians and others. The communication and public relations department provides support and information to employees so they can be more effective in their role as communicators.
As a public institution, Anoka-Hennepin is also accountable to parents/guardians and other citizens, informing them about their investment in public education and seeking their insight on helping the school district deliver high quality educational programs that meet the needs of its students and communities.
What is school public relations?
"Education public relations is a planned, systematic management function, designed to help improve the programs and services of an educational organization. It relies on a comprehensice, two-way communication provess involving both internal and external publics with the goal of stimulating better understanding of the role, objectives, accomplishments, and needs of the organization. Educational public relations programs assist in interpeting public attitudes, identify and help shape policies and procedures in the public interest, and carry on involvement and information activities which earn public support and understanding." Source: National School Public Relations Association, "New Standards for the School Public Relations Profession," 2002
Best practices
For best practices on AHlert/Blackboard mass notification, website, e-newsletter, social media and more visit ahschools.us/BestPractices.
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In the Know staff e-newsletter
Anoka-Hennepin's staff e-newsletter, In the Know, is sent every week during the school year as a way to keep staff informed of the news affecting the district and its employees.
In the Know is chock-full of district news, links to events and district publications. Each issue is sent in HTML format and features colorful graphics and photos.
E-newsletter archives
Check out the archived staff e-newsletter issues and articles from 2003-summer 2022 via Google Drive.
Get even more district news
Want more district news? Sign up here to receive Backpack Online e-newsletter at work or at home. Backpack Online is sent on a bi-weekly basis to anyone who wants to receive it (retirees, former employees, grandparents, etc.).
In the Know - Feb. 3 2023
2022-23 archived In the Know newsletters
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Feb. 3, 2023
Jan. 27, 2023
Jan. 20, 2023
Jan. 13, 2023
Jan. 6, 2023
Dec. 30, 2022
Dec. 22, 2022
Dec. 16, 2022
Dec. 9, 2022
Dec. 2, 2022
Nov. 23, 2022
Nov. 18, 2022
Nov. 11, 2022
Nov. 4, 2022
Oct. 28, 2022
Oct. 19, 2022
Oct. 14, 2022
Oct. 7, 2022
Sept. 30, 2022
Sept. 23, 2022
Sept. 16, 2022
Sept. 9, 2022
Sept. 2, 2022
Aug. 26, 2022
Aug. 12, 2022
Aug. 5, 2022
July 29, 2022
Staff news
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Appreciation of Diversity workshop series for staff to begin Feb. 11
(02/07/2023) The Appreciation of Diversity speaker series is offered in alignment with the Anoka-Hennepin Equity Achievement Plan, a coordinated effort to promote high academic achievement for all students and eliminate predictable and persistent gaps between student groups.
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Apply now for summer school positions
(02/03/23) The district is currently seeking teachers and paraeducators for early childhood, elementary and secondary Extended School Year and Targeted Services summer positions.
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Benefits spotlight: Sanvello, the self-help app, transitioned to Self Care by AbleTo
(01/27/2023) On Jan. 1, 2023, the self-help app, Sanvello, transitioned to Self Care by AbleTo. Self Care includes many of the same features and benefits as the Sanvello app and UnitedHealthcare eligible members will still have access at no cost.
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Benefits spotlight: Learn more about Optum, the district's Employee Assistance Program
(01/20/2023) Optum, the district’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and WorkLife Services are available to employees utilizing UnitedHealthcare benefits at no extra cost.Â
Photo and content guidelines
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Photo guidelines
Anoka-Hennepin staff, volunteers, representatives of the news media and others occasionally photograph, audiotape or videotape students in the schools. The photos, audiotape and videotape may be used in newsletters, newspapers, activity programs, yearbooks, brochures, on television, in educational videotapes, on webpages, in podcast episodes, and other appropriate uses.Parents/guardians may choose to limit the use of their child's photo. When a child enrolls in an Anoka-Hennepin School, parent/guardian(s) will be asked to select one of the following options:- No restriction: A child's photo will be taken and/or a child may be videotaped or audiotaped for all purposes as described in paragraph one above.
- Partial restriction: A child’s portrait/photo will be taken by the contracted school portrait photographer but used only for internal school identification records and in the school yearbook (as an individual portrait or as part of a traditional class photo/group photo taken by our school photo vendor).
- Full restriction: A child’s portrait/photo will be taken by the contracted school portrait photographer but used only for internal school identification records; it will not be used in the school yearbook or as part of a traditional class photo/group photo.
The parents’/guardians’ choices will be recorded in the child’s records. If parents wish to restrict their child's name, they must make a request in writing as described in the student records policy. Parents/guardians may change their photo option choice at any time by completing a new photo option form, which is available from their school.
Please note: Although the school will take reasonable steps to prevent students with full or partial restrictions from being photographed, except for portrait photos taken by the contracted school portrait photographer, the school cannot guarantee that a student will not be photographed/videotaped as part of a large group, such as participating in a school assembly, walking through a school hallway, and other situations where there are large numbers of students.
Parents taking photos: We do not restrict parents from taking photos during events such as track and field, class plays, etc. We do not attempt to ensure they aren’t taking photos of students who don’t have photo releases.
Updated Aug. 4, 2015
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Guidelines for e-news, web and social media
The Anoka-Hennepin School District disseminates information to staff and community electronically via the:- In the Know e-newsletter (ITK).
- Backpack Online e-newsletter (BPO).
- School and Program Events Calendar (which is repeated/pushed to e-news, social media and web).
- Announcements of workshops, classes, events, etc., will be included in district e-news, social media & web if they are sponsored or co-sponsored by the district or a school within the district, or by a consortium to which the district belongs (TIES and North Suburban Integration School Districts).
- Announcements by non-district or non-school organizations may be included if they have written endorsement by an appropriate district administrator.
- Announcements of fundraisers will be included only if they benefit a school, the school district or the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation, or if they benefit a current staff member or his or her spouse and/or children.
All requests for distribution of materials to staff on school property (i.e., paper copies of a brochure sent to teachers' mail boxes in staff lounges) or students on school property should be sent to Community Education.
Requests to promote potential school-based activities, lyceums, student competitions, etc. should be sent directly to the director of elementary curriculum or director of secondary curriculum to determine if they meet student or staff needs. Requests to promote parent education programs should be sent to the parent involvement coordinator to determine if they meet parent needs. Requests to promote events involving Continuing Education Units (CEUs), should be sent to the Continuing Education Committee to see if they meet district CEU standards.
Requests to promote products or services (graduate classes, staff discounts, etc.) via electronic dissemination or paper distribution of materials on school property will not be permitted as the distribution of materials that promote commercial sales of services or products to staff or students is generally prohibited by the district's advertising policy and guidelines (905.0 and 905.0G).
In accordance with the Distribution of Materials on School Property by Non-School Persons policy, in the event that permission to distribute materials is denied, the individual who made the request may seek reconsideration of the decision by the superintendent. The request for reconsideration must be in writing and explain why distribution is desirable and in the interest of district staff.
All requests for electronic dissemination via ITK, BPO or the School and Program Events Calendar should be sent to the Communication and Public Relations department. The department will review submissions on a case-by-case basis and notify the submitter within 10 business days (usually sooner) of approval or denial.
Updated May 13, 2013
Text messaging for Anoka-Hennepin employees
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Receive emergency notifications via text message
Anoka-Hennepin employees have the option to receive emergency notifications via text message. Staff interested in this option should review the following opt-in statement, and then follow the opt-in instructions by reviewing and/or adding information in the Skyward system to participate.
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Opt-in
By providing a mobile number in Skyward, I authorize Anoka-Hennepin Schools to send emergency notifications via text message for weather-related or school emergencies. This number will not be shared with outside vendors and will only be used for District emergency notifications. Standard data and message rates apply. The District is not responsible for fees incurred by staff who opt in to receive text notifications.
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How to enroll
From the Skyward employee access screen, select “update phone number” icon and follow the updated instructions. Detailed instructions are provided for those who need them.
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Important reminders
- This number will not be shared with outside vendors and will only be used for emergency notifications. Standard data and message rates apply. The Anoka-Hennepin School District is not responsible for fees incurred by staff who opt in to receive text notifications.
- Text message notifications will be reserved for emergency messages such as weather closings and delays, school emergencies or important notices for staff.
- Staff can opt out of text messaging by responding STOP to any message sent by the system.
For technical support email 506help@ahschools.us or call 763-506-HELP (4357).
Obituaries
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Phil Knutson, former longtime educator in Anoka-Hennepin, has passed away
(10/14/2022) Phil Knutson, a former longtime educator in Anoka-Hennepin, has passed away.
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Celebration of life event in honor of Jill Parent set for Aug. 12
(07/29/2022) Jill Parent, a former teacher at the district’s COMPASS program, has passed away. She was 56 years old.
Executive Director of Communication and Public Relations
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Jim Skelly
763-506-1111
Jim Skelly
Executive Director of Communication and Public Relations
763-506-1111
james.skelly@ahschools.us