Flyers & permission slips · $0 · 5-min read

Turn school emails and flyers into calendar events, free

Early-release days and field trip dates are easy to miss in a pile of school email. Here’s the free way to get those dates into your calendar, and the paid way to have it happen automatically.

By Dave Luderer, dad of three · Updated

The free way: paste it in, get a calendar file

Paste the email text into your assistant, or upload a photo of the flyer. Then:

From this school email/flyer, pull out every date that matters to a parent.
1. List them in a table: date, time, what it is, what to bring or pay, and the deadline to act.
2. Then make a calendar file (.ics) with one event per item. Add a reminder 2 days before anything that needs money, a form or supplies.
3. Skip anything that doesn't apply to [grade/class]. If a date or time is unclear, list it as "check" instead of guessing.
  • Making the file: Claude Free can create files with code execution.[1] ChatGPT Free’s data analysis is limited, so if it won’t make a file, just use the table.[2]
  • Open the .ics file and your calendar app (Google, Apple or Outlook) offers to add the events.

The automatic way (paid)

OptionHow it worksPlan
ChatGPT Gmail-triggered taskRuns when a new Gmail message arrives, and can filter by sender or subject (like your school’s address).[3]Plus, Pro and work plans. Not Free or Go.[3]
Gemini daily digestA schedule that summarizes your calendar, to-dos and emails each morning is one of Google’s own examples. Gmail has to be connected.[4]Rolling out to personal accounts.[4]
Copilot TasksCan use connected services you’ve authorized, like email or your calendar, and run on a schedule.[5]Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Premium, Pro.[5]
When a new email arrives from [school address] or with "[school name]" in the subject:
- Pull out any dates, deadlines, things to bring or money due.
- If there are none, do nothing.
- If there are, add them to a running list for me and tell me in one short message. Do not reply to the school or add events without asking me.

Want this every morning without pasting?

Set up the 2-minute school email digest. It reads only your school email and lists dates, forms and money due, every weekday.

Tested by Dave Not yet

I haven’t run this exact setup with my family for a full week yet. When I do, this box will say what happened, good or bad.

Next up

Sources

  1. Claude: Pricing
  2. ChatGPT: Plans and pricing
  3. OpenAI Help: Scheduled tasks in ChatGPT
  4. Gemini Apps Help: Schedules in Gemini Apps
  5. Microsoft Support: Using Copilot Tasks

All checked Oct 18, 2026 unless noted. Prices change. If something’s out of date, reply to any newsletter issue and I’ll fix it.