How a Weekly Staff Newsletter Helped Jamestown Strengthen Connection

TL; DR

Jamestown Public Schools moved from quarterly staff updates to a short, weekly Smore newsletter called the JPS Bulletin. The regular schedule, upbeat tone, and clear structure helped staff feel more connected across nine schools. It became a routine that people trust and a simple way to keep everyone aligned.

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A few years ago, Jamestown Public Schools sent only a handful of internal newsletters each year. They were nice to read, but with such a long gap between issues, they didn’t change much about how staff stayed connected.

That shifted when Cameron Hurst, the district’s Public Relations Specialist, tried something new: a short, weekly Friday newsletter sent through Smore. It started as a small experiment. It’s now part of the rhythm of the district.

Here’s what changed, and what other districts can learn from it:

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A Weekly Check-In Staff Come Back To

The Jamestown Public Schools Bulletin lands in inboxes every Friday at 7:45 a.m. It’s simple, predictable, and packed with updates staff need. Each week starts with a short video message or story from around the district, followed by a section called “Pillars of JPS.”

This small feature made a big difference. Staff nominate each other for embodying the district’s core values, and all submissions get included.

People look forward to seeing who’s highlighted. Cameron says they average about 20 nominations a week. It’s become a moment of positivity that staff can count on.

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One Place for What Matters

Before the Bulletin, important updates lived in lots of different places. Now, staff get HR reminders, payroll notes, district updates, and school highlights in one spot.

Since Jamestown doesn’t have an internal intranet, the Bulletin acts as a digital hub. It’s quick to skim and easy to revisit.

Cameron uses Smore’s analytics to see what people click and how long they spend reading. Those insights help him shape the next issue to keep it relevant.

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Building Connection Across Nine Schools

Jamestown is spread across nine buildings, which can make it easy for teams to feel siloed. The weekly Bulletin gives everyone a shared touchpoint.

Cameron has seen the difference already. More staff are aligned. More people know what’s happening outside their own building. And small wins that might have gone unnoticed now get shared districtwide.

“It’s hard to get everyone on the same page,” he said. “But Smore helps us do it.”

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Why This Works for Jamestown—and Why It Works Anywhere

The Bulletin succeeds because it’s:

• Consistent — same day, same time, every week
  
• Short — easy to skim, easy to keep up with
  
• Positive — recognition comes from staff, not top-down
  
• Useful — everything important shows up in one place
  

The key? It’s steady and thoughtful. And that’s what builds trust.

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A Simple Shift That Strengthened Culture

Jamestown turned one newsletter into a weekly habit. And that habit helped bring people closer, even across multiple campuses.

Any district can start small with one message, once a week. The value comes from consistency, clarity, and making space to celebrate the people doing the work every day.