Unlocking Insights: Leadership and Engagement for OurSCHOOL Survey Rollout
Planning your 2025-26 OurSCHOOL Survey? As your students prepare to participate in the OurSCHOOL survey, this newsletter offers practical tips, curated resources, and answers to common questions to help you guide them through a successful experience.
Your Leadership Sets the Tone for Survey Success
As a district or school leader, your preparation is key to a successful OurSCHOOL survey rollout. By actively engaging your staff, students, and caregivers ahead of time, you help create a shared understanding of the survey’s purpose and build trust in the process. Your efforts to communicate clearly, address questions, and foster a supportive environment ensure that participants feel informed and valued, leading to more meaningful responses and actionable insights that can drive real change in your schools.
Maximizing Impact: Tips and Resources for the 2025-26 OurSCHOOL Survey
Before launching your OurSCHOOL survey, ensure your team has the right tools for a smooth and impactful experience. The Pre-Survey Resources section of our Knowledge Base offers everything you need, from setup guides and communication templates to best practices for engaging students and staff. These resources are designed to help schools prepare effectively, maximize participation, and gather meaningful insights that drive positive change. Whether you're new to the platform or a seasoned user, this toolkit empowers you to start strong and make the most of your survey data.
Top Tips for Getting Started
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Reinforce the Value of Student Voice
Remind students that their feedback matters and can help shape their school environment. Their input is essential to building a better learning experience for everyone. Preparing Staff, Students and Caregivers for the Survey -
Use a Script to Introduce the Survey
A ready-to-use script can help educators clearly explain the purpose and process of the survey. Student Survey: Guide for Survey Administrators. Our Terms and Definitions resource makes it easy to respond to student questions as they complete the survey. -
Generate Excitement and Reduce Survey Fatigue
If students feel like they’re answering the same questions every year, try these strategies to make the experience fresh and engaging. Practical Tips for Generating Survey Excitement with Students -
Inform Parents of the Survey and How the Data Will Be Used
Customize this template designed to inform parents and guardians about the OurSCHOOL Student Survey.
We also encourage you to explore additional materials available in our Knowledge Base.
FAQ: Common Questions from Educators & Students
Q: Can students use assistive technology during the survey?
A: Yes! The OurSCHOOL application is now equipped with build in text-to-speech software!
Q: Why do students see different questions or question orders?
A: The survey uses filtered and rotated measures to ensure data quality and reduce bias.
Q: What if my survey results look the same year after year?
A: This may indicate consistent trends or areas needing deeper exploration. If you are interested in learning more, we have an article on what consistent answers might indicate, learn more here!
Q: How can I get help or share a success story?
A: Reach out to the OurSCHOOL team at support@thelearningbar.com.
Voices in Education Virtual Discussion Series
This fall, The Learning Bar is partnering with leaders in education to bring you a dynamic series of virtual discussions. These aren’t just presentations, they’re opportunities to connect directly with thought leaders, ask questions, and walk away with clear, actionable strategies for your classroom, school, or district.
The first session, on November 18th, is titled “Supporting Indigenous Learners Through Spirals of Inquiry and Collaboration.” Featuring Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser as panelists, this session will give insights into a framework for professional learning focused on increasing equity and equality for all learners.
The second session, on December 1st, titled “School-Wide Strategies to Support Students with School Attendance Challenges”, will feature Sheryl Boswell, the executive director and founder of Youth Mental Health Canada. Sheryl will be exploring what makes school feel difficult, sometimes even impossible for some students, and identifying some practical steps to reduce these barriers.
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