MSPA Guidelines for WhatsApp Grade-Level Parent/Guardian Groups

Overview

Welcome! The grade-level WhatsApp groups are intended as a resource and community-building forum for parents and guardians of current Menlo School students. While they are not officially school-sponsored groups, employees of Menlo School may also be members, and content will be monitored by the MSPA team leads and communications volunteers.

Please keep in mind that not all families use this platform, so to be inclusive of our entire community, the MSPA communications team volunteers should continue to work collaboratively with Menlo’s Communications team to send updates, invitations, and class announcements via official school channels such as eNotes/zipNotes, grade-level email announcements, and the grade-level webpages to ensure all members of our community have access to the information they need to fully partake in and feel a part of the life of the School.

Thank you for your partnership and for abiding by the following guidelines. We look forward to a collaborative, supportive, and positive experience for all!

Exemplify Menlo School Values

All parents and guardians agree to engage productively and thoughtfully on this platform and always uphold the School’s values:

• A joyful learning environment that is engaging, challenging, and supportive
• A culture of kindness, trust, and belonging
• A commitment to ethical behavior and purposes larger than ourselves
• A caring community centered around connection, growth, and well-being

Ways to Engage in the Group

All posts, comments, and other content should be appropriate and relevant to school-related activities and endeavors.

• Sharing information: Sharing announcements from the School, teachers, coaches, or parent organizations.
• Asking questions: Seeking advice or clarification on school-related matters.
• Connecting with other parents: Building community and supporting one another on school and related parenting matters.
• Organizing events: Using it as a supplemental outreach tool for MSPA-led activities or gatherings (while being mindful that some families may not participate in the WhatsApp group).

Communications Guidelines

Confidentiality and Privacy
Respect the privacy of group members. Do not share personal information or messages from the group outside the group without permission (please note: your student(s) should not have access to the conversations in this group). This includes images, names, and any sensitive discussions.

Respectful Communication
Menlo School is a learning community that values and honors the diverse backgrounds, individual identities, and ideas of all community members by engaging with curiosity, care, and compassion. All group members should interact in a way that acknowledges, respects, and appreciates differing viewpoints and experiences. Avoid using profanity and/or any language that could be interpreted as offensive, exclusionary, or insensitive.

Inclusive Events
When inviting others to participate in gatherings, please ensure the activity is accessible and welcoming to all families. Consider diverse needs such as language barriers, holidays, dietary restrictions, accessibility, family structures, transportation, and financial resources. For school and MSPA events, this group should serve as a supplemental promotional tool in addition to the School’s primary communication channels.

Constructive Feedback
When offering feedback, it should be constructive and aimed at improving the situation or discussion. Please address disagreements or concerns directly with individuals. If you need assistance, please contact the group admins (contact information is below).

Stay on Topic

Keep discussions relevant to school-related matters, grade-level activities, or related parenting issues.

Be Mindful of Volume
Avoid excessive posting or flooding the group with messages.

Avoid Gossip
This group is not a place for speculation and the spread of unverified information. If you have a concern, address it with the appropriate parent or school personnel.

No Solicitation
Do not use this group to promote any personal businesses, products, or services.

Use Direct Messaging (DM) when Appropriate
Contact other parents directly rather than using the group chat for private conversations or issues specific to your child.

Group Management

All currently enrolled families who have a child in this grade are welcome to join this group, and the link to join will be widely posted in school newsletters and on the grade-level webpages. By participating in this group, you agree to the above group guidelines. If you experience any violations of these guidelines, please contact one of the group admins directly.

Admins: Admins are responsible for maintaining the group’s guidelines and ensuring a positive and inclusive environment. The group is administered by Menlo MSPA Parent Team Members. 

Removal from group: Admins reserve the right to remove members who violate these guidelines or disrupt the group’s purpose.

Leaving the group: Members can leave the group at any time.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in the group are those of individual members and do not necessarily reflect the views of Menlo School, the MSPA, or the group admins.