Student award certificates taking place of gold stars

The Opportunity

From kindergarten through senior high, students who have made the effort to achieve more and enhance their knowledge should receive evidence of such endeavors.

A personalized certificate lends tangible validation to their efforts for all to see. It also provides a vehicle for teachers and school officials to communicate with parents on a strictly positive level.

Certificates lauding “a job well done” should be done well.

Scholastic achievements deserving recognition and a certificate include academic excellence, appreciation, art award, athletic award, citizenship, happy birthday, helping hand award, honor roll, kindergarten diploma, math award, music certificate, outstanding effort, perfect attendance, principal’s award, special recognition, spelling, thank-you and writing award.

The Errington Group Advantage

An attractive certificate, personalized with the student’s name and other pertinent information, can be stored electronically for reproduction as needed. This print-on-demand application can be printed in black and white on a preprinted colour shell, or in a single pass on a full-colour device.

Digital storage simplifies presentation.

The full-color certificate shown here includes the student’s photo, which can be easily retrieved from the digital repository. As a variable data application, the photo, name of the student and achievement can be inserted before printing out as an original document on regular stock.

Designing, creating, printing, storing and distributing recognition documents can be costly in terms of time and money. The Errington Group has a solution that saves both.

 

Convenient alternative to costly textbooks

The Opportunity

With the cost of texts being as high as they are, many teachers prepare custom content course packets for their students. These applications can be collections of articles, book excerpts and/or study guides compiled by teachers to supplant or accompany traditional textbooks.

Many school districts and central schools have largely relied on traditional printing methods to produce such documents. Now, however, they are recognizing the need for faster, streamlined processes and reduced costs.

Newer technology simplifies course pack production.

By incorporating digital on-demand print processes, schools can open up a world of potential for cost effective creation of student materials. Files can be electronically archived for easy revisions and reprints. Turnaround time is reduced from a week or more to only a day or two with digital printing.

Digital print technology also easily accommodates revisions and last-minute updates. And it eliminates the costly burden of inventory, distribution and high labor costs.

The Errington Group Advantage

The course pack example shown here features a preprinted offset cover in color. The white center panel allows easy customization of the cover with a variable imprint, which in this case identifies the course, its focus and the name of the instructor. Contents of the course pack are printed in black and white, thus minimizing costs.

Digital repository allows course materials to be shared.

In many cases, especially with guidelines being set by state laws, larger districts utilize the same curricula throughout a number of schools.

Using advanced document management systems, individual schools can easily incorporate identical customized course packs specific to a particular class level or curriculum. By storing content such as photos, graphics, maps and text in an electronic repository, course packs can be created, updated and shared as needed.

The print center can print updated material on demand and deliver it the next day before classes. This allows the teacher to provide students with the most current information available.

Helping teachers write meaningful report cards

The Opportunity

Teachers can spend countless hours writing a quality set of student report cards. In fact, during reporting periods, many teachers often sacrifice much of their personal time to get the job done right.

Report cards include important information about student achievement, and parents expect to know how well their child is performing in relation to his or her learning abilities. To do this accurately, a teacher needs to be able to collect and record evidence about each student’s learning.

Communication always a hot button

Both teachers and parents are always interested in improving the level of communication that exists between them. Every teacher’s goal is to provide parents with a report card that keeps them informed, empowered and involved in their child’s school. Parental involvement is one way to ensure a child’s success in the classroom.

Many schools and school districts have been using the power of technology to improve communications, through school and district web sites, e-mail and voice mail. One of the most fundamental types of school-to-home communication is the report card.

The Errington Group Advantage

The report card seen here uses variable data, including the student’s name, grades and teacher comments. The one-page document is divided into marking periods and a column for final grade averages.

Highlight colours in different shades set the periods apart from each other, making grades easier to read. A key at the top of the page lists symbols for other types of relevant information, such as days absent, medical excuses and additional details intended to alert parents on how their children are doing in school.

Like a mini spreadsheet

Much like a spreadsheet, the progress report follows a logical flow from beginning to end of the school term, with information contained in various cells. Because the template and individual student information are digitally stored, teachers and school officials can easily access and update grades and comments for each report.

The report card, put together using The Errington Group's digital production printer, can be produced on a variety of substrates. It can be designed as a self mailer or be inserted in an envelope.

Creating professional-looking student progress reports is simplified with The Errington Group's digital production printer.

Getting the word out is easier with eye-catching colours posters

The Opportunity

Long before the Homeland Security Department put the issue of security on the front burner, student safety was a real concern for all schools. In fact, many lawsuits have been filed against schools in recent years over violent incidents.

While some 37 states have laws giving schools total immunity from liability for violent acts, school officials and teachers may not enjoy the same protection. Furthermore, many provinces have laws requiring schools to develop anti-violence programs. In response to terrorist threats and violence in some schools, numerous districts have prepared detailed crisis-response plans.

Effective communication to students is essential.

As a valuable part of the communications mix, colourful posters offer a potent combination of cost-effectiveness, visibility and eye appeal for students. Large posters strategically placed can support a school’s various safety initiatives, as well as programs such as school plays, music programs, special events and other activities.

Many schools and school districts have been using the power of technology to improve communications, through school and district web sites, e-mail and voice mail. One of the most fundamental types of school-to-home communication is the report card.

The Errington Group Advantage

With the Errington Group solution, schools can print vibrant, full-colour posters whenever needed. This eliminates the problem with posters, which is that they quite literally hang around too long. After being seen numerous times, they’re no longer fresh or engaging.

Fortunately, digital print technology offers a better way. Just as retail stores regularly change window displays and update sales collaterals, school officials have an opportunity to place timely, compelling messages in front of their students on a regular basis.

On demand, on time and on budget

Poster print files can be instantly updated to make additions or revisions. The result is high-quality, cost-effective production and customization from school to school.

The Errington Group solutions enable school districts to easily create posters on demand, with messages and graphics that effectively communicate current concerns.

Program highlight the events that make a school special

The Opportunity

In an era of increasingly tight budgets, lagging public confidence and competition from other educational choices, schools must constantly strive to strengthen constituencies and enhance their public personas. School plays, musical performances, parent-teacher programs and special events of any kind are practical ways for a school to involve parents,community leaders and other local audiences.

Colourful program sets professional tone.

An eye-catching program lets the audience know they’re about to experience something special. It lends weight and suggests a level of proficiency, both to the subject matter and the sponsor—in this case the school’s administrators and teachers. The use of color also adds memorabilia to content and draws attention to content areas of special interest.

The Errington Group Advantage

The program is handed to visitors when they arrive at the school or performance venue. The cover of the example seen here features an impressionistic image appropriate for the cultural event the program is describing.

The simple but visually striking program is an 8" x 11" foldout, printed two-up double-sided on any stock. Variations on programs such as this can be as wide ranging as the type of events planned.

To simplify production and encourage school personnel to take advantage of print assets for their special events, a program template or format could be created and stored in an easily accessed digital repository. Programs could be produced in full colour, highlight colour or monochrome, depending on content and need.

Creating professional-looking special event programs is simplified with The Errington Group's digital production printer.

Program as fund-raiser supports the game that support the school

The Opportunity

With 50 percent of their budget dependent on state funding, school districts are vulnerable to state spending cuts in times of economic difficulty. With 80 percent of school spending going to salaries, spending cuts translate directly into teacher job cuts, typically in programs like music, art and sports.

To lessen the impact of these negative economic realities, many schools try to raise extra funds wherever they can. One favorite way is through special sports events.

You can’t tell the players without a program.

Few things get alumni juices flowing like a homecoming game or other special sports event. Booster clubs, community members and parents of students also are potential ticket buyers to “the big game.”

Augmenting admission and concession fees is the souvenir program—a proven fund-raising tool. An attention-getting program gives people a tangible piece of memorabilia that also helps them follow the game. It provides a vehicle for the school administration and athletic department to communicate with an interested audience.

The Errington Group Advantage

The program is handed to fans when they arrive at the stadium or playing field. The example shown here is full-colour throughout to justify the price listed on its cover.

The 16-page saddle-stitched, or perfect bound program contains team statistics, player profiles, history of the continuing rivalry between the two teams playing the game and a message from the home team coach.

Paid ads boost fund-raising capability.

The program also includes small-space advertisements and feature cover ads. These not only offset the cost of producing the program, but can also add to the funds raised.

The program, put together using The Errington Group printer, can be produced in-house as a short-run job.

The Errington Group solution enable school districts to easily create posters on demand, with messages and graphics that effectively communicate current concerns.

Helping students stay organized

The Opportunity

Scientific studies of adolescent brains lend credibility to something parents have always known: kids are not paragons of organization. They need as much help as we can give them.

A tool that can help high school students manage their school days better would pay welcome dividends.

Getting students off on the right foot at the beginning of each new school year is the goal of every school administrator. An attractive, full-year student planner can help achieve this.

You can’t tell the players without a program.

The goal of any well-conceived document is to make an emotional connection—to trigger a sense of belonging on the part of the recipient.

A practical, informational planner, interspersed with text and images relevant to the student’s school, helps make such a connection, encouraging use of the planner throughout the school year.

Files for the planner can be electronically archived for easy, cost-effective revisions and reprints from one school year to the next.

The Errington Group Advantage

The student planner example shown here features coil binding and a full-colour cover. Contents of the planner use highlight color overprinted in black and white.

The planner is sectioned by marking periods and includes math tables, key phone numbers, lists of holidays etc. Each spread is a complete week formatted for an eight-period day. The coil binding lets the book lie flat, enabling the student to review a week at a time.

Digital repository allows course materials to be shared.

Using advanced document management systems, individual schools can easily incorporate their own cover photos and floor plans into student planners with otherwise fixed content.

With access to content such as photos, graphics, maps and text in an electronic repository, the schools can create, update and produce their own student planners as needed. Digital print technology eliminates the costly burden of inventory, distribution and high labor costs.

The Errington Group digital document solutions and services help school districts produce high-quality documents quickly and cost-effectively.