4 Viral Campaign Lessons From the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Advancement // September 16, 2014

(Primary image credit to David Phillip/AP Press) The ice bucket challenge issued by The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association was simple. Either participants donate a small amount to The ALS Association and film themselves dumping a bucket of ice water on their heads while publically “calling out” others to do the same, or donate a slightly larger altogether to avoid a filmed dunking. The challenge basically took over the Internet, creating a viral sensation that has garnered The ALS Association almost $100 million in donations. (In comparison, they raised $2.7 million in the same time frame last year, some 3400% increase in donations.) Like The ALS Association, your private-independent school strives for increased donations from generous people to impact the lives of young students. If you’d like to mimic The ALS Association’s success, scroll down for some lessons to take from their viral marketing campaign to adopt for your own initiatives.

Read More

Virtual Viewbooks: What to Consider When Going Digital

Advancement // September 12, 2014

Printed marketing materials can be a huge expense in any private school Admission Office’s budget. Heavier paper and odd sizes can multiply your bill at the post office. These increasing expenses may make you reconsider the wisdom of the traditional print route and opt instead for a digital viewbook experience for your prospective families. After all, everything’s electronic these days—why shouldn’t your viewbook go virtual, too? But believing that a digital viewbook experience is a panacea for your budgetary woes can land your office in hot water, fast. Keep reading for some advantages and disadvantages of virtual viewbooks.

Read More

7 Admission Videos You Don’t Want to Miss

Advancement // September 12, 2014

Pictures get more attention than text—why do you think Vine and Pinterest have taken off? That’s aside from the wild success of YouTube and the resulting interest in video for multimedia marketing campaigns. But video can be an intimidating medium to try for an admissions campaign. For your viewing pleasure, then, we’ve found seven private-independent school admission videos to inspire your own video campaign and show what can be done on various size budgets.

Read More

Body Image in Private Schools: A Selection of International Studies

Private School News // September 10, 2014

We’re approaching the end of “bikini season” throughout most of the United States, a time when obsession with cellulose, BMI, and diets seems to run rampant. Societal pressures—like being swimsuit-ready for Instagram selfies or slimmed down for yearly school pictures—can lead to painful and potentially fatal eating disorders. Early identification of those with “low body image” could help prevent new cases of eating disorders, so let’s examine some factors that may influence low body image.

Read More

Herd Immunity and Vaccination Exemptions in Private Schools

Private School News // September 10, 2014

This summer in New York City, Judge William Kuntz II ruled that families could not claim violation of religious freedom due to the city’s health policies. Three families had brought the suit after their unvaccinated children were banned from school for a month at a time when vaccine-preventable diseases were suspected, according to the city’s school immunization rules. While the case remains unsettled—the families are requesting a retrial—the judgment reopens the debate on religious exemptions from vaccinations and the low rates of vaccinations in some of our nation’s private schools. Where should schools draw the line between student safety and the family’s right to decide?

Read More

Robin Williams: Inspiration From His Private School

Private School News // September 10, 2014

Entertainer Robin Williams passed away the morning of August 11, 2014, to the shock and dismay of everyone who had been touched by his gift for illustrating the human condition through his acting and comedic standup. Even President Obama commented on the tragedy, offering the First Family’s condolences to “everyone who found their voice thanks to Robin Williams.” His untimely passing sparked a worldwide campaign of remembrance, quoting a scene from his award-winning performance as a private school teacher in Dead Poet’s Society: “#OCaptainMyCaptain.” This quote strikes a deeper chord for those in private-independent education, as William’s presentation of English teacher John Keating was inspired by his own private school experiences.

Read More

Private School Sixth-Grader’s Science Fair Experiment Cited as “Pilot Study” in New Lionfish Research

Private School News // August 11, 2014

There’s much to be said for being raised by two ecologists and attending a private school that encourages scientific exploration. In fact, with the kind of support Lauren Arrington received from her family and school, it’s no surprise that her science fair experiment was cited as a “pilot study” for groundbreaking ecological research on invasive species—all before she was old enough to drive.

Read More

Lessons for Private Schools From Comcast Call Catastrophe

Private School News // August 11, 2014

What do you think of when someone says “customer service”? Terrible wait times and unresolved problems at mammoth corporations spring to mind, but these impressions are the opposite of what customer service should be. Every organization—including private schools—should strive for excellent relations with its clients. Your school must actively foster relationships with families, faculty, and students to avoid careless interactions that can lead to big publicity problems.

Read More

“What’s for Lunch?” –Private Schools Providing Healthy Meals

Private School News // August 11, 2014

The annual conference for the School Nutrition Association (SNA) took place a few weeks ago. Vendors lined up in rows, all plying their goods and demonstrating how their product was not just tasty, but also in compliance with tougher U.S. federal guidelines for lunches, effective as of July 1 this year.

Read More

Take Note: Four Private School Blogs to Emulate

Private School News // July 7, 2014

Blogging can be one of the easiest and most reliable ways to get your private school’s message onto the Web and into the community. However, worries about the time commitment or whether you have anything of interest to say can stop your school from publishing that first post. To inspire you for next year, here are four private-independent school administrators who are doing a marvelous job blogging their school’s mission to cyberspace—and whose example you can follow in your own blog.

Read More