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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
Green Corner: Holistic Allergy Treatments
Business and Operations // May 21, 2013
Allergy season is well underway. As trees and flowers wake up to greet longer days, so are allergy symptoms for nearly 35 millions Americans. It’s a beautiful time of year—but for sufferers, it’s misery. Sniffles, sneezes, watery eyes, itchy throat, constant drowsiness, headaches, and sinus pressure are just some of the reasons for long lines at the pharmacy counter. Here are some natural remedies to help ease seasonal symptoms—and hopefully reduce your wait at the pharmacy and strain on your wallet.
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Facebook: Likes vs. Shares
Advancement // May 21, 2013
Facebook has created a whole new lingo (and has turned nouns into verbs). You can “friend” and “unfriend” someone or, in a less drastic move, simply “hide” their posts from your wall. You are constantly asked to “like” or “share” posts. If you are using social media as part of your school’s development efforts, you are likely to ask your Facebook “fans” to do one of those things too. It’s a call to action, an engagement tactic.
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Indicators of School Crime and Safety
Board of Trustees // May 13, 2013
Creating a “safe haven” for the students at your school is a major Board concern, and making sure all the protocols and policies for school safety are in place is a must.
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And Now for Something Completely Different…
School Heads // May 7, 2013
Students at Bellingham Christian School (WA) got exciting news on May 1— a Sun Day! No school due to nice weather! The school did not have to shutter for any snow days this year, and School Head Bob Sampson said he wanted to re-create how excited the kids get on snow days. So he started a teaser campaign about a possible day off earlier in the week.
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What Do You Know About Financial Reporting?
School Heads // May 7, 2013
As School Head, you likely have a Business Manager to handle your financial reports. Still, you are the Board's only employee, and it is your responsibility, with your Business Manager’s support, to keep the Board informed of the school’s financial footing. You will also be part of the Board’s strategic financial planning process, and you need to be prepared for that responsibility. You must be able to report financials accurately to your constituents.
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Risks That Keep You Up at Night
Business and Operations // May 2, 2013
Schools, like all organizations, are at risk of lawsuits and claims—even when all protocols are followed and proper insurance is carried. In a recent edition of Net Assets, the article Risk, Claims, And What Keeps You Up At Night (NBOA members can access the entire issue in the membership area of the NBOA site), mentioned that assaults, athletic injuries, slips and falls, and employment discrimination claims are both the most common and most costly risks that private schools face.
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Planning Against Violent Acts
Business and Operations // May 1, 2013
There has been a great deal of violence in the news this year. The Sandy Hook Elementary shootings and the Boston bombings shook us on a national level. Within our local communities, tragedies such as teacher sex scandals, vicious bullying, and drug/gang wars have made headlines. For students, rationalizing these acts can be a struggle. (Read Suggestions for Handling Tragic Events.) For adults—especially educators and administrators—making sense of these events and establishing risk management protocols can be frustrating—and emotionally exhausting.
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3-D Printing Initiative Attracts International Attention
Private School News // April 29, 2013
A recent article in Education Week revealed how a Virginia school attracted global visitors interested in its 3-D printing classes.
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Be Not Afraid: The Head is In Charge, Not HR and the Attorneys
Business and Operations // April 29, 2013
There was a fascinating—and deeply disturbing—case in the national media this month involving the termination of a college coach for verbally and physically degrading his players. Many of the reports about the case indicated that certain administrators wanted to terminate the coach when the incidents first came to light, but they were advised by HR and legal counsel that they “didn’t have enough evidence” to do so. While we have no special insight into the veracity of the facts reported, we wanted to use this example as a means of examining a key leadership issue in private-independent schools today: How much power should the school’s attorney (and HR adviser) have?
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Suggestions for Handling Tragic Events
Academic Leadership // April 29, 2013
In Education Week Teacher, Boston teacher Lillie Marshall writes about her personal reactions to the Boston Marathon bombings coupled with her seventh grade students’ desire to discuss and learn about the tragic events that happened right in their backyard.
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