The Bridge Guidelines and Style Sheet - September 2013


FAQs Summary (see below for details)

1. Bridge deadline is Monday 5 pm for distribution Wednesday afternoon

2. ‘a’Bridged is sent on an ‘as needed’ basis for time sensitive, critical information

3. Send all requests to piercebridge@gmail.com

This document outlines the guidelines for use of The Bridge and ‘a’Bridged, including format, criteria for content and revised scheduled.

The Bridge

Purpose: The Bridge is a weekly newsletter meant to effectively disseminate public information regarding school events, academic news, and announcements throughout the Pierce community on a regularly scheduled electronic distribution.  Hard copies will be made available to those students who need them and a few hard copies will be available in the main entrance.

Timing: The Bridge will be disseminated every Wednesday.  All items to be considered for publication must be received no later than 5 pm each Monday. Generally, events and notices will get 2 weeks of dissemination, unless deemed critical or particularly time sensitive and they will then get 3 weeks.

Submission Format: All text should be submitted in Microsoft Word, Verdana Font in 10pt in black ink. The Bridge will change heading color, etc., based on the format below. Attachments are discouraged. Please include relevant contact information and desired links if readers should need to seek more information.

Format: The Bridge will use black ink for all narrative. Section headings will be in larger font using dark gray ink. Article titles will be in bold green ink. Outside graphics are discouraged to help make The Bridge e-friendly.

Topics: This newsletter may include, but is not limited to the following:

  • What’s Happening This Week: A bulleted list of time sensitive events for that week which link directly to corresponding announcements
  • Principal’s Corner: An announcement from Dr. Pipier Smith-Mumford, Pierce Principal
  • PTO Corner
  • School Corner
  • Specialist’s Corner
  • Problem of the Week Section
  • Community Corner: includes events and information outside of Pierce, but relevant to the Pierce community
  • A link to send Comments/Suggestions to
  • Classifieds (see below for info)

Classifieds: Classifieds will be run twice, either two consecutive weeks or one week on/one week off at Editor’s discretion. There is a $20 charge for ads from parents of Pierce students when it is related to a personal profitable event/item. In addition, for-profit businesses who wish to submit a classified ad are charged $25. All checks should be made payable to Pierce PTO and sent to Attn: Treasurer, Pierce School, 50 School St. Brookline, MA.

There is no charge to a proven non-profit organization to post an event.

‘a’Bridged

Purpose: ‘a’Bridged notifications are to be used for one-off, time-sensitive items that merit special attention due to its content and/or its urgency. It is not meant as a fall back to items that did not make The Bridge deadline. In order to minimize redundancy, it will be used judiciously.  

Timing: as needed

Format: ‘a’Bridged will be sent via email by select individuals using black font with Green headings as in The Bridge.  

General Criteria for The Bridge and ‘a’Bridged

Submissions must relate to the Pierce community, including in-school and out-of-school activities.  

Submissions will be reviewed for content to ensure it is efficient and minimizes space. Links will be used when appropriate to direct readers for more information.

All efforts will be made to synthesize information and avoid duplication in The Bridge and ‘a’Bridged. (Meaning, if two notices containing the same information are received, the Editorial team will determine how best to combine them to avoid redundancy.)

No item will be listed that is deemed inappropriate by its Editor or the Pierce PTO.

Distribution

The Bridge and ‘a’Bridged will use the same distribution list. This list will be generated using the most up-to-date Directory with emails. In addition, it will allow for an ‘opt out’ feature for those wishing to unsubscribe. Submissions will be sent to piercebridge@gmail.com and will be reviewed by the Editorial team for content.

Issue distributed on Wednesday via email.