The Prompt Parent

School goes back in two weeks, and you know what that means: the school portal has finally updated, the teacher assignments are out, and the school class WhatsApp group comes to live.

I’ll be the first to admit it—I have never volunteered to be the Class Parent. Between my career and keeping the wheels on the bus at home, I just can’t commit that kind of time. But I have so much admiration for the parents who do. They are the heartbeat of the school community. Without them, I’d probably miss half the dress-up days and invaluable memories that make up my girls’ school years.

The thing I find most valuable? That one “Golden Message” from the Class Parent that summarizes the entire term. It’s my lifeline. It helps me plan my work meetings around the sports carnivals and ensures at least one of us—me or my husband—is there for the kids.

But I also know that writing that “Golden Message” is a massive chore. Digging through the portal, cross-referencing PDFs, and formatting a week-by-week update manually takes forever.

So, this week’s shortcut is a gift for the Class Parents (or for anyone who wants to be the hero of their WhatsApp group). Let’s turn that messy school calendar into a crisp, 5-second update.

⚡ Sanity-Saving Prompt: Generate the “Golden Message”

The Move: Take a screenshot of the school calendar from the portal or snap photos of the activity list (can be multiple documents or snapshots). Upload it to your AI app (I love using Gemini for this because it’s great with images) and paste the following:

“I am the Class Parent this year. Attached is a photo of the school calendar for the month. Create a friendly, clear WhatsApp message to remind the other parents of our upcoming activities. List them week-by-week, include the dates, and use emojis to make it easy to scan. End with a cheerful note wishing everyone a great start to the term.”

The Result: A perfectly formatted, ready-to-post message that makes you look like a productivity genius and keeps everyone in the loop.

TIME SAVED : 30 min a month

Why this matters: When we simplify the “admin,” we make it easier for people to volunteer and help all the parents with busy schedules to create a multiplier effect! And when the information is clear, we all get to spend more time actually being present at the events rather than stressing about missing them.

Did you save the day for your class group? If this shortcut saved you 45 minutes of squinting at a school portal, let me know! Drop a comment with “Saved [X] minutes” so I can add it to our Community Time Saved counter.