What to Include in Your PE Teacher Newsletter to Parents
What Every PE Newsletter Should Cover
PE newsletters have a reputation for being short on substance: dress code reminders and schedule changes. The sections below show what a PE newsletter looks like when it actually communicates the value of what you do. Parents who understand PE become allies. Parents who do not become the first to suggest cutting the period when there is a scheduling conflict.
Current Unit With Learning Objectives
Name the unit and explain the physical and cognitive skills it develops. Be specific. "Basketball develops explosive lateral movement, peripheral vision for reading team positions, and the ability to make split-second decisions under physical pressure" tells parents something meaningful. Include the unit duration and what students will be able to do by the end of it. This framing makes PE look like the curriculum subject it is.
Dress Code and Equipment
Include dress code requirements in the September newsletter and any time the requirements change (outdoor season, water day, dance unit). Be specific: rubber-soled athletic shoes, athletic shorts or pants, no jewelry that could catch or cause injury, hair tied back for certain activities. A clear dress code section in the newsletter prevents the daily individual reminders that slow down class start time.
Grading Overview
At least once a year, explain how PE is graded. Most PE teachers assess participation, effort, demonstrated improvement, and knowledge of rules, not comparative athletic ability. Parents who understand this grading philosophy support it when their student, who is less naturally athletic, earns a strong grade. Parents who do not understand it sometimes feel their student is being graded unfairly when a less skilled student outperforms their child.
Fitness Testing Context
Before any fitness assessment, include a full explanation: what is being measured, why, when it will happen, and how results will be used. Emphasize that assessments measure current fitness levels for goal-setting purposes, not for comparison between students. The best PE teachers tie assessments to individual growth over time, and your newsletter is the place to explain this philosophy to parents before the tests happen.
At-Home Physical Activity Suggestion
End every newsletter with one specific physical activity families can do together. A 15-minute walk after dinner. A challenge to do 10 push-ups before school each morning for one week. A local trail or park they might not know about. These suggestions connect PE learning to lifelong habits and give parents a simple, low-pressure way to support what you are doing in class.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the most important thing to include in every PE newsletter?
The current unit with a description of what students are learning beyond the sport or activity name. 'We are in the volleyball unit to develop quick lateral movement, hand-eye coordination, and reading an opponent's body position' is substantive. 'We are playing volleyball this month' is not.
Should PE newsletters include information about excused absence policies?
Yes, at the start of the year. Explain what counts as an excused absence from participation, how students who cannot participate should be dressed, and what make-up options exist. Clear policies prevent conflicts before they start.
How should grading appear in PE newsletters?
Include a grading overview at the start of the year: what you assess (participation, effort, demonstrated improvement, knowledge of rules), what you do not assess (athletic ability compared to peers), and how grades are communicated. Parents who understand PE grading do not push back when their student who is not athletic gets an A.
Should PE newsletters include information about extracurricular sports?
Occasionally. When school sports are in season, a brief note connecting PE skills to the sport can help. But keep this section brief and focused on students who are in your class, not just on athletes.
How does Daystage help PE teachers communicate with families?
Daystage lets you build a structured PE newsletter with unit descriptions, dress code sections, and at-home activity ideas, then send to all families at once. Consistent format means parents know what to look for each month.
Adi Ackerman
Author
Adi Ackerman is a former classroom teacher and curriculum writer with 8 years in K-8 schools. She writes about school communication, parent engagement, and what actually works in real classrooms.
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