E-mail guidelines improve communication
between you and your child's teacher

Many parents have asked us about how they can use e-mail to communicate with their child's teacher. The Peel board has developed the following guidelines to help you determine how to use e-mail effectively to keep in contact with the school.

E-mail is just one way that staff will communicate with parents. There are many situations when a phone call or a face-to-face meeting may be preferable. Let your child's teacher know if e-mail is one of your preferred ways of keeping in contact.

Your child's teacher will use e-mail to keep in touch with you about the following kinds of topics:

- general information about class activities – curriculum, homework, tests, special events

- arrange for meeting/telephone call regarding a student issue including a general description of the issue

e.g. "I would like to arrange a meeting to discuss your daughter's attendance"

- follow-up on an issue that has previously been discussed

Your child's teacher will not use e-mail to discuss any of these issues:

- any sensitive student information that would normally be discussed face-to-face or by phone

- personal information about other students

- specifics about a sensitive student issue which was not initiated by the parent or had not previously

been discussed with the parent

- other staff

- the staff member's performance

Student e-mail guidelines

The board needs your signed consent for your child to use e-mail at school. This consent is in addition to the consent for use of the Internet.

Your child's school's code of conduct will outline the expectations regarding the use of e-mail and the consequences of inappropriate use. Students are responsible for all e-mail sent from their account. The board has the right to access and disclose the contents of a student's e-mail messages.

If you have any questions about the e-mail guidelines, contact your child's teacher or principal.