If your school has a thriving summer program that attracts students not just from your school but from neighboring schools as well, you have a pool of recruiting potential at your fingertips. But you’re thinking, “I don’t want to come across as I’m taking advantage of the situation.” You don’t have to. We have subtle tips that will help you work with the Summer Program Director to pique the interest of your summer attending families.
- Put families who have attended your school’s summer program on the mailing list to receive your newsletter throughout the academic year. The Head or your Summer Program Director can write a cover letter explaining that the school wants to keep them abreast of other events in the life of the school.
- In your literature, identify teachers who work in the summer program where appropriate. Parents are attracted as much to the people who will teach their children as they are to a school's educational offerings.
- Invite summer program students and their families to all open houses. If there are enough students from other schools participating in the summer program, consider holding a special open house just for those families.
- Hold a summer program reunion to bring non-school participants back on campus. It is a good way to reinforce the friendships and excitement from the previous summer and associate them with your school. If you hold the reunion around the time registration materials for the coming summer are being mailed, you will be performing double duty—recruiting for both the academic year and the summer.
- Create a summer program alumni page on Facebook. Work with the Summer Program Director to keep it updated and relevant. You can also post important upcoming events throughout the year. This will keep them interested and engaged.
Additional ISM resources of interest
ISM Monthly Update for School Heads Vol. 11 No. 2 The Leaves Are Falling—Think Summer Program
Additional ISM resources for Gold Consortium members
I&P Vol. 35 No. 10 Internal Marketing Strategies for Your Summer Program
I&P Vol. 37 No. 11 Redesign a Benefit-Oriented Summer Program
