Marketing to Church Members

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Private School Teachers Chatboard

Marketing to Church Members

by Montana Princ.

Apr 25, 2010

I am serving on a school improvement team for my parochial school, and need some tips on marketing the school to the members of our own congregation.

Thanks! And May God Bless.

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4th Sometimes we have a 'school Mass' during one of the regular Sunday masses. The kids wear their uniforms and the older ones participate as lectors, gift bearers, ushers, etc. They sit together and make a pretty impressive looking group. It reminds the parishioners of what we do with part of our school day.

You might have an Open House after...See More

Apr 26, 2010

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Leah Great ideas. Also, get specific recommendations from satisfied parents that you can print and share.

Apr 27, 2010

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Dale D I, too, am on a marketing committee. Just some of the things we've done in the past year: In conjunction with the Foundation committee, a parish "Birthday Club" for all parish children 12 & under was started. Birthday cards are presented to the children from the parish & school once a month during Mass (during their birthday month), and the...See MoreI, too, am on a marketing committee. Just some of the things we've done in the past year: In conjunction with the Foundation committee, a parish "Birthday Club" for all parish children 12 & under was started. Birthday cards are presented to the children from the parish & school once a month during Mass (during their birthday month), and their names are published in the church bulletin (again from the church and the school).

A strategic corner was located in the neighborhood where there is both high car and foot traffic. We are in the process of putting up a banner stating we have a full-day kindergarten and day care after school. (Next year, we will have before school day care.) This gains importance at this time as the public schools have announced that they are reducing kindergarten to half-day sessions.

Any school accomplishments, academic, sports, or otherwise are placed in the parish bulletin.

We enter every civic contest open to school children in the area. Sometimes we win. The whole class shows up for presentation ceremonies, in uniform, both as support for our classmate, but also to let the community know about us.

Participation in community Christmas shows are a great way to advertise the school. Look for planning of these events before Halloween. Your local councilperson's office is aware of these if public property (such as parks and auditoriums) are involved.

Students are required as part of their religion grade to give service For our older children, their service must include the civic community. This can take many forms. Years ago, through first a letter-writing campaign and then petitions, our school was responsible for gaining a swimming pool at the local park. We showed up at the mayor's office, in uniform, and had several pictures taken for the newspapers. Find a project in the neighborhood that has importance and get the kids involved. Don't forget to call the newspapers, if they forget to notice you. It's free publicity for them as well as your school.

Open houses are good to a certain degree, but better if planned in conjunction with some other event going on in the parish. Otherwise, pretty much just the parents of the children already enrolled in the school want to come and go through the school. These really have to be strategically planned. We have a local private school (non-religious) that has an open house almost every month. Sad to say, this is sending a "we-are-desperate" message to the neighborhood. I would say no more than 2 open houses in a school year (one near the beginning of school, one after Easter, but before summer vacation) would be effective.

Summer school, especially one planned with day care is another way to get noticed. We are fortunate to have a very good day care, and let's face it, many parents are really looking for that in the summer time as well as an educational boost.

I have a marketing committee meeting tomorrow night. I'll let you know if any more ideas pop up. Hope there's something here you can use

Apr 28, 2010

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