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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.

Kindergarten Is The New First Grade

Advancement // November 23, 2011

Every school has its own policy for accepting kindergartners. For some, it’s a birthday deadline, others it’s a developmental readiness assessment. And, yet there is no definitive answer. When to accept students, or start students, is a difficult decision—and often one that is ultimately made by the parents.

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Beginning Teacher Attrition and Mobility

Board of Trustees // November 21, 2011

Although the School Head is responsible for hiring a strong, mission-based faculty, the Board must provide the needed funding, via strategic financial planning, so that the Head can recruit and retain a quality teaching staff for your school. Keeping new teachers is especially difficult in the current economy and market.

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Characteristics of the Ideal Trustee

Board of Trustees // November 21, 2011

The Committee on Trustees is always searching for “ideal” Board members—people whose skills and personal qualities help to keep your school moving forward. As time goes on, however, it is worth revisiting the essential responsibilities, behaviors, and priorities of Trustees. This training might be part of your annual Board retreat or new Trustee orientation. The goal is to ensure that Board members know that the ideal Trustee:

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A Little Bird Told Me: Tweet Strategically

Advancement // November 17, 2011

Twitter, the microblogging site that has become a social media powerhouse, has also become a new media tool for private-independent schools. If you are tweeting now as part of your communication plan for constituents—or if you haven’t gotten into it yet—here are four tips to make your efforts highly effective.

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When Facebook Isn’t All Happy!

Advancement // November 16, 2011

Facebook and other social media outlets give you immediate access to your constituents. You can share information quickly and provide links to your Web site and other areas. Facebook also gives those constituents plenty of opportunity to talk back. This is a good thing, since you want to engage those individuals; you want your “fans” to say great things about your school.

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Tweeting Your Brand, Engaging Your Friends

School Heads // November 7, 2011

Social media has quickly become part of the fiber of our culture—a pervasive yet effective means of connecting with your community and spreading the word about your school to a broader audience. In a recent Webinar hosted by edsocialmedia.com titled Social Media and Branding: Composing a Cohesive Tune, Rob Norman of Turnaround Marketing Communications asked, “How can I create branded content?” His answer was “give the audience what they want.”

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Tips for Students: Managing Bullying

Business and Operations // November 2, 2011

Since the start of the new school year we’ve published several articles about bullying. Here is a simple checklist you can distribute to students and teachers.

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November Is National Diabetes Month

Business and Operations // November 2, 2011

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Do you know your risks? While the stereotype is that diabetes appears only in older people who weight more than recommended, in fact, this illness can affect anyone of any age or size. Take this oppurtunity to familiarize yourself with the warning signs and risks of Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2.

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