Make a Post-Catholic Schools Week Plan!

Catholic Schools Week is over. You've evaluated the Open House, you've followed up with potential new families, and you've swept up the confetti from the teacher-student volleyball game.

Now what?

You know you're not done with recruitment, not by a long shot. So here are a few things to put on your to-do list for the coming months.

• Plan at least one more Open House. It can be a Sunday after the Masses (move the hospitality table to your school courtyard!) or even a weeknight. Put the date at the top of your website, advertise in church bulletins, and get the word out through the Catholic Sun using their free Sunbeams. Recruit your student ambassadors, get your parents baking cookies, and get ready to show off everything your school has to offer!
• Make plans to send a few representatives to the preschool information nights in your area. Make sure they're armed with lots of information about your school.
• Educate your parents about the importance of filling out their FAIR (Financial Aid Independent Review) form so they can get the maximum amount of scholarship money available to them. The deadline is April 15! 
• Make sure you have your tuition set for the 2014-15 school year! Current and prospective parents need that vital information for planning purposes. Once you've settled on the number, publish it on your website, in your parish bulletin, and put it in the information packet given to prospective families.
• Take a look at your information packet. Does it include everything a family needs to register? Is all of your contact information (phone, emails, website) visible right away?
• Do a thorough assessment of your website. Eliminate anything that's outdated, post new photos, and spruce up the language if it needs it. Take a look at the teachers' pages, too, and if there is old or outdated information there, gently point it out to them.
• Take a look at your school's outward appearance. Is it warm and inviting? Do visitors know how to get to the office? 

Finally, plan to join the Diocesan School Board at our spring evening in-service on March 6. We'll be covering three simple topics: Preparing Your School's Elevator Speech (why your school's the best in a paragraph or less), Your School's Curb Appeal, and Digital Marketing, Your School's Most Cost-Effective Marketing Tool. We're meeting at St. Gregory's Gordon Hall at 5:30 p.m. and we promise to have you out of there by 7 p.m. A light supper will be served. RSVP with your name and school so we'll have enough for everyone.