Communications

The Issaquah School District Communications team communicates the values and mission of the ISD in order to build understanding, trust and support among our students, staff, parents, and community at large. Through tools such as district and school level bulletins and websites, social media accounts, video production, media relations, and more, the department helps keeps the community informed about exciting, newsworthy and important things happening across the district.

We work collaboratively with our 27 campuses to highlight the impactful happenings of students, teachers, and leadership, as well as to celebrate our increasingly diverse school family.

Stay Informed at the School & District Level

Our primary modes of communication include:

• School Bulletins: Each of our school buildings sends out a bulletin between 4 and 6 p.m. each Thursday during the school year. Additionally, emergency bulletins are sent if something timely is happening on campus (bear sighting, police activity near a school, modified lockdown, or other emergencies). The announcements that appear in your school's bulletin are also available on the school's website under "Our School," then "Announcements." If you don't already receive your school bulletin, sign up here.
• District Weekly Bulletin "The 411:" The district's weekly bulletin is sent out in the afternoon on Mondays (and some Tuesdays when holidays fall on Mondays). The items that appear in the district bulletin each week are also available on the district website under "About Us" and then "Announcements." If you don't already receive The 411, sign up here.
• FOCUS Printed Newsletter: The district's printed bi-annual newsletter, mailed to all addresses within the ISD boundary each spring and fall. This newsletter helps showcase the programs, activities and operations that educate and support our students.
• HORIZONS Digital Newsletter: Our digital newsletter emailed to all district families and staff, along with community members who have opted in to receive our communications. Through Horizons, we share stories of excellence, achievement and engagement in our classroom and around the district. 
• Emergency Notifications: During an emergency, we will first ensure that students and staff are safe, and then send information to staff and families affiliated with that location via email, text (you must opt in for text messages from a mobile phone number that is listed in your guardian Family Access account), and occasionally robocalls. Additionally, we'll use pop-up notifications on the appropriate websites. For example, if school is canceled just for at Briarwood and Apollo elementary schools due to a localized power outage in those areas, we'll post pop-ups on those two websites.
  • Text Messages: If you are not receiving text messages and would like to, send the word "Yes" or the letter "Y" to the number 67587 from the cell phone number that is listed in your Family Access account.
  • Learn more about how we communicate during closures or delays.
• Websites: For upcoming events, news, staff directory information, lunch menus, bus routes and much more, visit your school's website or the district website. To translate our websites, use the drop-down menu in the top right menu (or on mobile, use the menu indicated by the three horizontal lines in the top right).
• Social Media: Our official district social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Superintendent Heather Tow-Yick is also on Instagram. Visit our Social Media Directory to find district and school social media accounts to like and follow.
• Homeroom Huddle: Our podcast that explores the experiences, challenges and successes of our district. Each episode highlights a theme discussed by a dynamic panel of educators, students, families and community members.