I like lists.
I like making them.
I like crossing things off them.
I even write something on a list- something I’ve already done- just so I can cross it off!

The next few weeks have several lists to prepare families, schools, teachers and students for back to school. 

School supply lists.

To do lists.

Activity lists.

I even have a list to help your church-school partnership: the August Checklist. 

The August Checklist contains

• The best way to begin the school year with your partnership (hint: food!)
• One way to save your partnership budget some money
• 3 “behind the scenes” things to do now before it’s too late

It’s a free resource and you can download it here.  

Principals tell me the best time to pitch a partnership is 2-3 weeks before your community’s official start of school.

I don’t know when that is for your community and your district, but you do.

Most schools in my community begin the week of August 19.

So the ideal window to connect with a principal in my community begins July 29.

This isn’t a hard and fast rule. 

It doesn’t mean you can’t partner with a school in October. 
Or January.  Or even March. 

It means your best window for a successful partnership is those 2 to 3 weeks before school. 

It’s what principals tell me. 

​If the school you work at, the school your kids attend, or the school that’s close to your home (or church, or business) can benefit from a partnership, now is the time to start it.
 

Beginning Saturday, Target is offering a promotion for teachers, who on average spend $450 out of their own pocket on necessary classroom supplies. 

What if Target didn’t need to run that promotion?

• What if teachers weren’t spending $450 out of pocket on things they really shouldn’t have to?
• What if teachers got to keep more of their money for their own expenses and not on things necessary to educate children?
• What if principals asked how church and business partnerships could keep money in teacher’s pocketbooks?

I know, I know.  That’s pie in the sky thinking.

We’re comfortable with the idea that this annual summer expense is just a necessary part of the teaching profession. 

And yes, I know there are jobs where you perhaps buy your own tools or your own supplies.

I also know there’s LOTS of other jobs where you don’t.  I shutter to think if I had to buy my own legal pads.  Or pens.  Or post-it notes. 

The more churches and businesses partner with public schools, the less need there will be for promotions like this from Target.

Church and businesses who partner with schools help teachers.  Send this onto a teacher who could benefit from a church or business partnership.  We’d love to discuss how a church or business partnership can help teachers not have to do a Target run for their classrooms.

There’s only one question a church needs to ask a school to begin a successful partnership.
There’s also only one question a school needs to answer.

Spoiler alert: it’s the same question.

What you don’t need to serve a school

• You don’t need a complicated agenda.
• You don’t need strategic objectives.
• You don’t need a checklist.
• You don’t need goals.        

You simply need a blank piece of paper (I prefer a legal pad!) with one question.

One question.

That’s it.

The one question: how can we help?

This is the one question every church asks a school to begin a partnership.

This is the one question every church asks a school each summer if they are already partners.

How can we help?

And then listen, Linda!

The answers will be different from your agenda.

How this one question is the best way to serve a school

• You may want to provide volunteers and discover your school really needs a partner to come alongside its PTA.
• You may want to donate money and discover your school really needs adults to mentor students over lunch hour.
• You may discover your school really needs a partner to advocate the school to your greater community.

It’s helpful to have a plan.  And goals and objectives are not bad things.
But what’s most helpful is asking one question and then getting to work on how you can best answer the question.

Chances are you’ve already asked this one question. 
But perhaps there’s a pastor you know who would love to connect with a school. 

Or there’s a principal you know who love to have a church ask her this question.

Forward this email to a principal. 

Invite a pastor to sign up for future emails. 

​Together we will help schools and churches best answer this question together.