What to Put in Your High School Principal Newsletter in March

March is one of the most logistically dense months of the high school year. Spring break falls somewhere in the middle or end of the month for most schools, state testing windows open for many grade levels, and course registration for the following year starts to come into view. Families need a clear map, and your March newsletter is the right place to provide it.

Spring Break Dates and Expectations

Start with the basics: exact spring break dates, when students return, and any changes to the schedule around the break. Include makeup testing or assignment policies if your school has them.

A brief note on expectations during the break is appropriate. Many schools share reminders about responsible behavior on social media, travel safety, and the importance of returning rested and ready to learn. Keep this section positive in tone. It lands better as a forward-looking note than a list of warnings.

Standardized Testing and State Assessments

For high schools, March and April are peak testing months. SAT School Day, ACT, state assessments, and PSAT 8/9 for younger students all tend to cluster in this window. Your newsletter should spell out which tests are coming, which students are required to take them, when they are scheduled, and how school days will be structured on those dates.

Many families underestimate the impact of an absence on a mandatory testing day. A straightforward explanation of what happens if a student misses a required test, and how to communicate in advance if an absence is unavoidable, prevents a lot of problems.

Course Registration for Next Year

If your school has not already opened registration, March is typically when the process begins. Families of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors need to understand how it works, who their student's counselor is, and what the timeline looks like.

Include any information nights or counselor meeting slots. If there are prerequisites for advanced courses, mention that students and families should review those before selection day. Course selection decisions made in March shape a student's entire next school year, and families who feel prepared make better choices.

Senior Milestone Update

Seniors in March are waiting on regular-decision college results, managing scholarship applications, and starting to think seriously about graduation. Your newsletter should include a short senior section that covers any upcoming college decision deadlines, financial aid comparison guidance, and the start of graduation planning communications.

If your school hosts a senior college decision event, a prom planning meeting, or a cap and gown ordering deadline, March is when those details start to matter to families.

Attendance in the Home Stretch

Spring break tends to create attendance issues both before and after the week off. Some students and families extend travel, and some students mentally check out before the break starts. A clear note about attendance expectations in the weeks surrounding spring break, and the academic consequences of missing school during testing and review periods, is worth including.

Frame it constructively. "These weeks matter more than they might seem" is more effective than a list of consequences.

Spring Extracurriculars and Performances

Spring is the busiest season for high school extracurriculars. Spring sports are underway, theater productions are entering rehearsal, and music ensembles are preparing for concerts. A brief rundown of upcoming performances, competitions, and community events gives families a chance to plan attendance and celebrate student achievement.

Mental Health Check-In

March can be a high-stress month for students. The combination of testing pressure, college decision anxiety for seniors, and the pre-spring-break energy drain adds up. A paragraph acknowledging that this is a demanding stretch, paired with a reminder of available counseling and wellness resources, shows families that your school sees the whole student, not just academic performance.

Key Dates at a Glance

Close your newsletter with a clean list of March and early April dates: testing days, spring break window, registration deadlines, performances, and any parent engagement opportunities. A scannable date list at the end of the newsletter is the part families bookmark and return to throughout the month. Make it easy to find and easy to read.