Three Writing Tips for Your “Head’s Column”

School Heads // December 28, 2015

Your school’s newsletter is a powerful internal marketing tool, in addition to being an ongoing source of vital information for the school community. As such, you can work to guide casual conversations through your “Head’s Column”—the portion of your school’s newsletter in which you can talk as School Head about important topics that directly impact the school. Writing such a column on a monthly (or even bimonthly) basis can feel daunting, but take a deep breath. We have three things you can do that will immediately improve the column—and your community's response to it.

Read More

Busting the Winter Blues for Administrators, Faculty, and Students

School Heads // December 28, 2015

The midyear doldrums will strike your school in the post-holiday haze, dragging at the school community as everyone gets back into the regular schedule. That’s not to mention the temporary onset of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), triggered by the waning daylight hours and plunging temperatures of winter. Re-inspire your students, teachers, and fellow administrators through these winter blues busters!

Read More

Bethany Academy Offers Half-Off Tuition for Top Fundraising Family

Advancement // December 22, 2015

It was a once-in-a-lifetime shot, and Bethany Academy mother Angela Ramey couldn’t have had a better time to make it. Standing in the middle of the gymnasium, dwarfed by towers of boxes packaged for needy families to enjoy a hearty holiday meal and surrounded by cheering students and parents, Angela and her daughter Grace pump themselves up for the opportunity to halve their 2016-2017 tuition bill.

Read More

“Text URSCHOOL to Give!” —Evaluating Mobile Donation Opportunities

Advancement // December 22, 2015

Everyone seems to be glued to portable screens these days, whether that’s a phone, tablet, or some other newfangled device that blinks and buzzes and glows at its porters. Considering this newfound attachment to cellular devices, some schools on our Development e-List have wondered whether text-to-give programs could (or should) be integrated into their general fundraising programs. We’ve compiled a list of benefits and disadvantages to consider when looking at your constituents’ phones as a gateway to their wallets.

Read More

Six Midyear Parent Survey Tips

Advancement // December 21, 2015

It’s the holiday season once more. Family and faculty alike have had a semester to settle into the rhythms of academia, and you have a small breather between semesters. Still, it’s not quite time to relax before the new (calendar) year begins. Now is the perfect time to receive feedback through surveys from parents on your school’s processes to improve your funnel for next year’s recruits while retaining current students. Before you ask your parents the first questions that come to mind, however, let's take a deep breath and plan ahead to avoid possible roadblocks.

Read More

Facebook Dumps Private School Reviews (Temporarily)

Advancement // December 21, 2015

Take a moment to look at your school’s Facebook fan page. There's probably a banner picture of smiling students. Your school’s general updates and accolades fill the feed, exciting prospective parents at the possibilities your academic program could offer for their child. Is anything missing? Well, not anymore. For the space of about a week, Facebook completely erased reviews for private schools before mysteriously reinstating them.

Read More

LinkedIn for Administrators, Part Four: Genuine Connections

Private School News // December 15, 2015

In light of last month’s connection-spam lawsuit, we thought it’d be wise to talk about how to connect with new professional contacts on LinkedIn. After all, the point of social media is to be, well, social, which involves introducing yourself to new people and starting conversations. Today, we’ll discuss the top three unwritten rules of “connection invitations” over LinkedIn.

Read More

Confronting a Student Gambling Problem of International Proportions

Private School News // December 15, 2015

A private school in Melbourne, Australia, took a hit last week as reports emerge of student gambling within a local gaming store. According to The New Daily, a group of young men—still dressed in their private school’s uniform—frequently visit the local TAB outlet and bet large sums of money that one local bystander described as “staggering.” The outlets didn’t notify the school that students in their uniform were placing bets, and the headmaster has found himself unable to address the problem without knowing who the gambling students are. But Australia isn’t the only country that’s been affected by student gambling. Advances in technology and lack of oversight have resulted in a new wave of addictive gaming behaviors that have been ridiculed by media and leave administrators floundering to regain control.

Read More

FAST Answers to Financial Aid Questions

Private School News // December 15, 2015

Q: Our school recently received an application for financial aid that listed only one income. After we asked for clarification, we learned that one of the student’s parents has chosen not to work. We’re at a loss on how to evaluate this particular situation—do you have any advice?

Read More

Three Reasons to be Wary of “Free Work”

Advancement // December 3, 2015

Imagine this scenario: your school’s online donation page is hopelessly outdated and requires upgrading, both for aesthetic and security reasons. The price for an experienced web designer in your area is more than your school expected to pay for the work. However, hope appears in the form of a PTA parent who says he'd be willing to tackle the project for free. You’d jump for joy at the serendipitous solution to your problem, right? Not so fast. Before the project is done, you might end up paying more for your “free” work than if you’d hired a professional in the first place.

Read More