To complete your web presence, you need to be able to receive email. The contact page provides that for you. I refer to this alot when talking to parents and I've found that they are very happy to be able to communicate with me this way. There's one little requirement, though! You need to check your email often! There's nothing more frustrating to a parent than to contact a teacher by email and not receive a timely reply.

There is a real benefit to establishing email contact with parents. I've learned there is a real impact in the classroom when students know that I can "instantly" access Mom or Dad should the need arise. I also like to use email to send positive notes and ecards for birthdays and special events.