Returning from maternity leave

Did anyone write a letter to parents when they returned from maternity leave? I have to go back next week and the person who took over my job met with all the parents. I have different expectations than her (she is one of our TA's who has her sped license) and I really want to reestablish myself as the teacher (I went in for 1 week at the beginning of school). If you have a letter or any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated!

ETA: I just put one together. If you have any suggestions on how to improve, please let me know. Thanks. IF it also helps I teach 7-12 grade life skills classes (where I know most of the students) and 9th grade LE inclusion. (where I am also their class advisor so know some of the parents).

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

I am writing to inform you that I have returned from my maternity leave. I am excited to be back in school with the students and am looking forward to a productive and successful year. I appreciate all the work Mrs. XXX did in my absence. I have extremely high expectations for the students and am looking forward to seeing what they can achieve. During this change, your child may have difficulty adjusting. Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss this transition. In addition, if you would like to meet to discuss your child, as we did not meet during parent-teacher conference night, please contact me to set up an appointment. I can be reached during school hours at (xxx) by phone or by email at XXX.

I am looking forward to seeing what your child can achieve.

Sincerely,
Mrs. XXX

Message edited 11/2/2008 6:42:23 AM.

Re: Returning from maternity leave

I am returning a 2 weeks myself, and also was only in the classroom for a short period in September(3 weeks). This is just my opinion, but I think by sending a letter home like this you are opening a can of worms for yourself. You are the teacher, you told the students your expectations on the first day of school and they will adjust again once you are back in the classroom. I think you may get some phone calls from parents saying that their grades are not as good as Mrs. XX. just because you gave them the opportunity to say so. Without the letter, you will still get some phone calls, but I feel like you will get less of them.

Just for the record, I know my department chair has kept me in the loop of things going on, so I know what to expect, and he has worked with my replacement to uphold the standards I have set for my students. Hopefully, the transition will not be that difficult for me.

I do not know the situation you are walking back into with regard to your administrators, but hopefully they will back you up if there are discrepencies between you and the replacement.

Re: Returning from maternity leave

Posted by ejm1219

Did anyone write a letter to parents when they returned from maternity leave? I have to go back next week and the person who took over my job met with all the parents. I have different expectations than her (she is one of our TA's who has her sped license) and I really want to reestablish myself as the teacher (I went in for 1 week at the beginning of school). If you have a letter or any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated!

ETA: I just put one together. If you have any suggestions on how to improve, please let me know. Thanks. IF it also helps I teach 7-12 grade life skills classes (where I know most of the students) and 9th grade LE inclusion. (where I am also their class advisor so know some of the parents).

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

I am writing to inform you that I have returned from my maternity leave. I am excited to be back in school with the students and am looking forward to a productive and successful year. I appreciate all the work Mrs. XXX did in my absence. I have extremely high expectations for the students and am looking forward to seeing what they can achieve. During this change, your child may have difficulty adjusting. Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss this transition. In addition, if you would like to meet to discuss your child, as we did not meet during parent-teacher conference night, please contact me to set up an appointment. I can be reached during school hours at (xxx) by phone or by email at XXX.

I am looking forward to seeing what your child can achieve.

Sincerely,
Mrs. XXX

Re: Returning from maternity leave

Re: Returning from maternity leave

Posted by BigB

Posted by ejm1219

Did anyone write a letter to parents when they returned from maternity leave? I have to go back next week and the person who took over my job met with all the parents. I have different expectations than her (she is one of our TA's who has her sped license) and I really want to reestablish myself as the teacher (I went in for 1 week at the beginning of school). If you have a letter or any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated!

ETA: I just put one together. If you have any suggestions on how to improve, please let me know. Thanks. IF it also helps I teach 7-12 grade life skills classes (where I know most of the students) and 9th grade LE inclusion. (where I am also their class advisor so know some of the parents).

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

I am writing to inform you that I have returned from my maternity leave. I am excited to be back in school with the students and am looking forward to a productive and successful year. I appreciate all the work Mrs. XXX did in my absence. I have extremely high expectations for the students and am looking forward to seeing what they can achieve. During this change, your child may have difficulty adjusting. Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss this transition. In addition, if you would like to meet to discuss your child, as we did not meet during parent-teacher conference night, please contact me to set up an appointment. I can be reached during school hours at (xxx) by phone or by email at XXX.

I am looking forward to seeing what your child can achieve.

Sincerely,
Mrs. XXX

It is good, but I would change the final line to something like "I am looking forward to working with you and your child for a successful remainder to the school year!

Re: Returning from maternity leave

I wish you the best of luck in your return. That's why I said, it depended on the situation you were walking back into. As far as the letter goes, it is a good letter and it is direct and to the point.

Re: Returning from maternity leave

I would change the final sentence because you already say the exact thing in the middle of the paragraph: "I have extremely high expectations for the students and am looking forward to seeing what they can achieve."

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

I am writing to inform you (is this necessary? I'd go right into the next part)
that I have returned from my maternity leave. I am excited to be back in school with the students and am looking forward to a productive and successful year. I appreciate all the work Mrs. XXX did in my absence. I have extremely high expectations for the students and am looking forward to seeing what they can achieve.I'd put something more like a partnership...like what we can accomplish this year. During this change , your child may have difficulty adjusting. I'd put transition, and put something like Mrs. XXX and I are working closely together to make this transition go as smoothly as possible for the students, however, should they have difficulty adjusting, feel free to contact me... Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss this transition. In addition, if you would like to meet to discuss your child, as we did not meet during parent-teacher conference night, please contact me to set up an appointment. I can be reached during school hours at (xxx) by phone or by email at XXX.

I am looking forward to seeing what your child can achieve. I'd do something more positive like "I look forward to seeing all that we will accomplish in the classroom this year."--you steer clear of saying child because of guardians, but then mention child in this last part.

Sincerely,
Mrs. XXX