gmail with students/parents

I am a sixth grade teacher and I use gmail every day to communicate with my colleagues but I also use it to communicate with parents and students.  Each student in our school has a gmail account.  At the beginning of the year, I have the students fill out an index card with "something I want my teacher to know..." and "a question I have for my teacher is..."  They complete the sentence and ask me a question.  I use gmail to write back an answer to their questions.  The students enjoy hearing from their teacher and it is an easy way to communicate when they have questions.   I make sure my students have my gmail account address at the beginning of the year so that they can communicate with me when needed.