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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
How Safe Is Your Google-App Driven School?
Business and Operations // May 30, 2014
It’s hard to remember the world before Google. It’s how we find anything and everything online, not to mention how we keep track of important appointments and assignments, chat with friends and colleagues, and collaborate on projects. Companies and schools alike are not just powered by Google, but are completely entrusting in the company’s software.But just how safe is your Google-driven and stored information?
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Let's Talk About Ticks
Business and Operations // May 29, 2014
With lengthening daylight and warmer temperatures, kids are eager to play outside on playgrounds and in organized sports on broad, grassy fields. But what if those fields hide creatures that could harm your students? What if they’re harboring tiny, blood-sucking parasites? Welcome to May, everyone—it’s tick season.
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Saving Money at the Office Printer
Business and Operations // May 29, 2014
Strange, but possible, especially when you consider that the average U.S. office worker accounts for two pounds of paper and paperboard products every day. That’s the average employee in any industry—can you imagine how much more faculty and other administrators print to keep up with a school full of students? Letters to parents, worksheets, and memos can add up, so check out some of these tips to save on printing in your school.
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Ask ISM's Health Care Reform Specialist
Business and Operations // May 29, 2014
Q: If we hire an hourly administrative assistant to work full-time during the school year that would have unpaid summers and vacations off, are we legally required to offer health benefits? Likewise, are we “safe” with not paying health benefits for teachers' aides who work 32.5 hours a week during the school year?
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"Introducing ... New Teachers!"
School Heads // May 23, 2014
With the spring hiring frenzy in your rearview mirror, it’s time to start thinking about introductions and orientations for your newest employees! New teachers should feel welcome not just in faculty lounges, but in the larger school community, too.
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Attracting Exceptional Teachers
School Heads // May 23, 2014
As we inch closer to graduation, we start to think about what graduates will do as young adults entering the “real world.” If a recent study by centrist think tank Third Way is right, few of our highest achievers consider teaching as a personal career goal.
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Dear National Teacher Day: A Letter to First Year Teachers
Academic Leadership // May 16, 2014
National Teacher Day was May 6, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate all of our teachers than to share a video made by Edutopia and SoulPancake featuring veteran teachers writing letters to themselves on their first day of school as a new teacher. (The transcript’s below, if you care to read instead of listen.)
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When Professional Development Is Useful for Your Teachers
Academic Leadership // May 16, 2014
In a past Division Head e-Letter, we shared examples of faculty professional development that didn’t make the most of in-service days. (In fact, it was borderline offensive!) Today, we’d like to take a moment to highlight some qualities of excellent professional development that comprise an enlightening experience for your faculty—and ultimately, your students.
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#GradSelfies: Pictures Tell the Stories of Your Graduates to the Community
Advancement // May 13, 2014
End-of-year graduations wouldn't be complete without the obligatory "photo ops" and self portraits ("selfies"). Besides, your school’s photographer can’t be everywhere at once, and so student- and family-provided pictures can capture some amazing moments for promotional use. Why not capitalize on the celebratory picture-snapping and start a “hashtag party” so that others can share in their happiness? Ask families to upload photographs to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest—all their preferred social media sites—from graduation and other senior-specific events using the school-approved hashtag so that everyone can see what they’re up to.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Annual Fund—And How To Answer Them!
Advancement // May 13, 2014
As more parents come from the Millennial or Generation Y age groups, donors are (typically!) leery of giving to a nebulous “cause.” They prefer to know exactly how their donations are being used by the institution. Thus, convincing people to donate to your school’s annual fund can be tricky, as the annual fund is often a “catch all” fund raiser that finances many different programs at the school. Here, then, are some common questions asked by families about the annual fund, and how you can best answer them to encourage large donations.
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