The start of a new school year marks a fresh beginning, a chance to create a positive classroom environment, and an opportunity to establish strong teacher-student connections. A well-crafted welcome back to school letter sets the tone for the entire year. Here's how to write the best welcome letter, along with some examples to inspire you.
Start with a Warm Greeting
Begin with a friendly and warm greeting to immediately establish a positive tone. Address students by their first names for a more personal touch. See the example below for more ideas.
Welcome back to school! I hope you had an incredible summer filled with fun and adventures. I'm thrilled to be your teacher this year and can't wait to get to know each and every one of you.
Expression of Enthusiasm
Convey your excitement for the upcoming year. Let students know that you're looking forward to the learning journey you'll embark on together.
We're going to learn, explore, and grow together in our wonderful classroom.
Or
I'm thrilled to be your teacher and can't wait to embark on this learning journey together.
Share a Personal Connection
Share a brief personal anecdote or funny story to show students that you're approachable and relatable.
Introduce Yourself
Introduce yourself briefly, especially if you're a new teacher to the students. Mention your teaching experience, passion for education, and goals for this year. Many teachers add a picture of themselves to personalize the letter.
Share Classroom Expectations
Outline your expectations for behavior, participation, and classroom rules. Keep these positive, emphasizing the classroom community and respectful atmosphere you want to foster. Keep it brief, you'll spend more time going over these in more detail during the first week and month of the school year.
Give a Sneak Peek of Curriculum
Provide a sneak peek of exciting topics, projects, and activities you have planned for the year. This builds anticipation and excitement among students. This step is very important to give students something to get excited about and look forward to the upcoming school year. See the examples below as starting points for your own letter.
This year, we'll dive into some fascinating topics like exploring outer space, discovering new animals, and even creating our own stories.
Or
This year, we'll tackle some exciting projects that will push your creativity and critical thinking skills. From designing innovative solutions to real-world problems to exploring historical mysteries, we're going to stretch our minds and expand our horizons.
Or
Some of the activities and projects you’ll be doing this year include monthly book reports, writer’s workshop, interactive notebooks, science experiments, social studies projects, math centers, reader’s theater, and much more!
Highlight How They Can Get in Touch With You
Highlight the importance of open communication. Let students know how they can reach you, whether through email, notes, or other communication platforms.
Show Your Commitment to Student Success
Express your commitment to each student's success. Emphasize that you're there to support and guide them throughout the school year.
Be Sensitive and Inclusive
Ensure your letter is inclusive, acknowledging the diverse backgrounds, talents, and strengths that each student brings to the classroom.
Use our Welcome Back to School Letter Templates with examples to easily personalize your own welcome letters. With lots of different backgrounds, vibrant colors, and a variety of themes it has everything needed to craft the perfect back to school letter. And best of all it's editable in Google Slides so you can send it digitally or through regular mail to your new students.
Writing a welcome back to school letter is your chance to set the tone for a positive and engaging school year. Through your words, you can inspire curiosity, foster a sense of belonging, and ignite excitement for learning. Whether you're teaching elementary students or middle schoolers, the key is to infuse your letter with authenticity, enthusiasm, and a genuine desire to make this year unforgettable.