The Importance of Your School’s Calendar to Retention Efforts & Parent Satisfaction Apr 01, 2023

 

As we head into spring, this is a great time to plan for next year. Let’s chat about a frequent challenge area for schools — calendars!

Today’s parents are busy, busy, busy. They’ve got work, sometimes multiple school schedules, social obligations, and a gazillion...

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5 Strategies for Funneling Prospective Students into your School and Camp Mar 29, 2023

The external community needs to get to know your school, teachers, staff, and campus sometimes years before they make a decision. If the only opportunities to engage with your school are admissions events, you’ll need to rethink your strategy. Some families don’t know they’re...

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5 Survey Best Practices for Small Schools Mar 24, 2023

I recently gave a presentation to the Seattle Archdiocese for Catholic Schools about surveys. Surveys are a great way to collect valuable information about your school community. It gives parents a way to help us help them. If you haven't been using surveys, or if you haven't been mindful about...

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Marketing Minute: Must Send Emails Dec 17, 2022

We're going to talk about the one email that you need to send every month to your community. And when I'm talking community, I'm talking about your admissions list, your summer camp list, your parents, your grandparents, and your donors. Everyone, okay.

And the goal of this one email is to...

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Surprise and Delight = Reciprocity Oct 29, 2022

I'm going to talk to you today about a really cool concept called Surprise & Delight. You might already be doing this and not even know it's a thing, but I'm going to tell you about it. 

Surprise & Delight is where you do something unexpected for someone, and it's usually somewhat...

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Marketing Minute: Relationship Building Oct 22, 2022

Today I'm going to talk with you about relationship building.  

Now, relationship building is key to so many efforts.

Development

Marketing

  Retention.

It is so important. 

And there are many ways that you can relationship build.

You can have conversations.

You can attend...

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6 Reasons Families Leave Schools Dec 08, 2021

Hi there!

Today I'll be sharing with you 6 Reasons why families leave schools. This knowledge is critical because you want to retain the families that you have, the families that you love, because it saves you time, money, energy, everything  - and creates a community that is really...

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New Family Retention for the End of the Year Oct 29, 2021

Hi there! 

Are you working on new family retention right now? Today I have a few tips that I urge you to implement now if you aren't already. 

1. Do a new parent survey. This gives parents an outlet to express their feedback, especially if it's anonymous. 

2. Parent/teacher...

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Is Your Fundraising Hurting Your Parent Experience? Oct 27, 2021

Hi friends! 

Today we have a much-needed topic for you: fundraising.

I've been talking A LOT about this recently, not only because it's the start of annual giving, but because the way you approach your asks year-round will truly affect your parents' perception of your school,...

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Is Your High School or Middle School Worth it? Sep 30, 2021

Hey there,

At independent schools, and small independent schools especially, it can be a challenge to keep up enrollment in middle school and high school.

If you currently have families in those prior levels who are approaching middle or high school (or whatever your next level is), how many of...

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The #1 Fundraising & Retention Mistake Schools Make Sep 24, 2021

Hey there, 

Fundraising season is quickly approaching! How are your preparations going? 

Let's make sure you're ready for the season by discussing the one thing that can make or break participation in your annual giving: 

Relationship-building! Yes, I talk about this...

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The Dangers of Asking Too Much Sep 19, 2021

Hi friends, 

As Annual Giving season is right around the corner, today I'm here to tell you one of the major fundraising mistakes that I see in small and independent schools. 

In addition, making this key mistake can also negatively impact your retention efforts. So, let's dive in!

I'll...

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