Thank a Teacher Day – School Supporting Media NoteAs part of our Thank a Teacher preparations we wanted to make sure we support our partner schools in raising awareness in their local media. This is a great opportunity to highlight what your school is up to and to drive up Thank Yous in your local community. We have provided below two suggested press releases – one for a month before Thank a Teacher Day and the other to send on the day itself. As you’ll see these releases are similar in their messaging, so if you do want to send releases out on both occasions then the second press release should be predominantly focused on the pictures you can send alongside the release. This is your opportunity to highlight your pupils’ creativity and the great activities you’ve been up to in school!Although these releases might look prescriptive, they are intended solely as suggestions. If you want to change these then please feel free to do so, but equally if you’d prefer to add in your school information where highlighted and then use our suggested messaging that is fine as well. This is particularly important when it comes to your school activities – the more personalised this is to your school the better! If you have any questions about this process, or would like any support in your media activity, please contact us at philc@teachingawards.com.

Suggested press release to send out on May 23 to raise awareness of Thank a Teacher Day

[AREA] school joins national campaign praising school superstars

++ [School Name] calls on families to thank school staff making a difference to pupils ahead of national Thank a Teacher Day ++

++ Pixie Lott, Nadiya Hussain and Sir Michael Morpurgo among host of stars celebrating Britain’s greatest teachers ++

On Wednesday 23 June, families across [AREA] will come together to thank teachers, lecturers and school staff as part of a national campaign to praise the work that schools do. School leaders at [SCHOOL NAME] are planning on joining this national effort to praise their staff, and have called on their community to join in.

Organised by The Teaching Awards Trust, the annual Thank a Teacher campaign is calling on children and their families this year to thank the school staff who go above and beyond. The support schools have provided for their local communities has been highlighted by the challenges of the past year, and this celebration gives families a chance to show their thanks.

Using the hashtags #ThankATeacherDay and #HowWillYouSayThankYou, pupils and their families are being asked to show their creativity in coming up messages of thanks to celebrate school staff, including recording clips of them singing songs, reading poems and drawing pictures. Children are also encouraged to wear something sparkly for their teaching heroes in celebration of the ‘Stars’ theme for the day.

Pupils at [SCHOOL NAME] are also looking forward to a range of activities to show their thanks to their teachers, including making stickers, designing bunting and competing in themed quizzes! [ADD IN YOUR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES HERE!]

These messages will be shared across the country on Thank a Teacher Day on Wednesday 23 June, when the country joins together in celebrating teachers and school staff.

The last year has seen an abundance of stories of teachers making care visits to vulnerable families, coming up with innovative ways of remote teaching, keeping their pupils settled by regularly checking in and even using their school sites for Covid-19 testing when classes did return to school. There has never been a better time to appreciate them and the vital work they do.

[HEADTEACHER] at [SCHOOL NAME] said: INSERT HEADTEACHER COMMENT

Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author and former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: “So often and for so many of us, it is a teacher who changed our lives, was at our side through hard and difficult times, who lifted us up when we were down, helped us find our voice, gave us confidence when we needed it most, set us on a path that we have followed ever since. At my school I had a French teacher, who might not have made a linguist of me, but was always kind to me. He loved his subject and passed that on. I still love French, the language, the people, the literature, but even he could not persuade me to learn my French grammar.”

ENDS

For more information please contact [SCHOOL NAME] on [CONTACT INFORMATION].

Suggested press release to send out on Thank a Teacher Day

[AREA] school joins national campaign thanking school heroes

++ [School Name] joins national celebrations thanking school staff on Thank a Teacher Day ++

As families across [AREA] have come together to thank teachers, lecturers and school staff on Thank a Teacher Day, pupils at [SCHOOL NAME] have played their part. Throughout the day pupils have shown their appreciation towards their teaching heroes through a real range of activities, including making stickers, designing bunting and competing in themed quizzes! [ADD IN YOUR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES HERE!]

Using the hashtags #ThankATeacherDay and #HowWillYouSayThankYou, pupils and their families have come up with an abundance of creative messages to thank their teachers and wider school staff. Children have also worn something sparkly for their teaching heroes in celebration of the ‘Stars’ theme for the day.

A host of high-profile supports are also supporting the day, with celebrity chef Nadiya Hussain, author Michael Morpurgo and artist Axel Scheffler among the celebrities judging competitions for different thank yous.

Organised by The Teaching Awards Trust, the annual Thank a Teacher campaign is calling on children and their families this year to thank the school staff who go above and beyond. The support schools have provided for their local communities has been highlighted by the challenges of the past year, and today’s celebration gives families a chance to show their thanks.

The last year has seen a wealth of stories of teachers making care visits to vulnerable families, coming up with innovative ways of remote teaching, keeping their pupils settled by regularly checking in and even using their school sites for Covid-19 testing when classes did return to school. There has never been a better time to appreciate them and the vital work they do.

[HEADTEACHER] at [SCHOOL NAME] said: INSERT HEADTEACHER COMMENT

Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author and former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: “So often and for so many of us, it is a teacher who changed our lives, was at our side through hard and difficult times, who lifted us up when we were down, helped us find our voice, gave us confidence when we needed it most, set us on a path that we have followed ever since. At my school I had a French teacher, who might not have made a linguist of me, but was always kind to me. He loved his subject and passed that on. I still love French, the language, the people, the literature, but even he could not persuade me to learn my French grammar.”

ENDS

For more information please contact [SCHOOL NAME] on [CONTACT INFORMATION].