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Navigating A Crisis: Best Practices in Public Relations for Boarding Schools
Discover effective strategies for handling crises in boarding schools and maintaining a positive reputation. This article explores best practices in public relations, emphasizing transparent communication with the community, parents, and the media. Learn from real-life examples of successful crisis responses and the pitfalls of stonewalling. Gain insights into community engagement, parent communication, media management, and the importance of proactive measures. Elevate your school's crisis management approach and foster trust during challenging times. Read how to ensure your boarding school is well-prepared to navigate any crisis with resilience and integrity.

Navigating Crisis: Best Practices in Public Relations for Boarding Schools

The chances of a boarding school head of school having to handle a crisis are fairly high. That's because of the sheer size of the school community. The typical American boarding school has between 150 and 350 students. Some schools are larger. Some are smaller. So, given the number of people involved, it's simply inevitable that incidents will happen. Minor incidents can usually be handled quickly and without adverse publicity. But what happens when a fire breaks out in the science lab, and three students suffer smoke inhalation? Or worse yet, the school bus carrying the girl's field hockey team blows a tire and crashes?

Handling a crisis at a boarding school requires effective communication and strategic public relations to safeguard the institution's reputation and maintain trust within the community. This article will explore best practices for engaging with the community, parents, and the media during a crisis. Additionally, we will examine examples of successful and unsatisfactory crisis responses and emphasize the perils of stonewalling.

Engaging with the Community

During a crisis, it is crucial to establish open and transparent lines of communication with your community. You can achieve this through proactive measures such as holding town hall meetings, organizing information sessions, and leveraging digital platforms. These efforts demonstrate the school's commitment to addressing concerns and ensuring the well-being of students. In addition, timely updates, clear information, and empathetic messaging are essential to foster

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Top 5 Reasons To Study Dance At A Boarding School

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Top 5 Reasons To Study Dance At A Boarding School
From meeting world-renowned guest artists to balancing busy rehearsal schedules, students share how boarding school is preparing them to dance professionally.

For dance students with dreams of pursuing their art form professionally, the high school years are a crucial time of preparation. Whether they go to dance camps over the summer or attend competitive dance high schools, many students use this time to take important steps to prepare for higher levels of dance. You may be wondering if you’ve outgrown your local dance studio, or whether you want to continue juggling a hectic schedule that requires you to commute back and forth between your school and your studio. If you’re looking for other options, here are five reasons why you should consider attending a boarding school for dance.

Professional training

The top reason to join a dance boarding high school is the rigor of training you’ll receive. The best dance boarding schools have programs specially designed for students who are interested in dancing in college and/or professionally. The boarding school difference is evident in the caliber of the material you learn, the faculty who work with you, and the fellow students who become your peers.

“My local company was somewhat intense, but I definitely felt that I could be pushed more and I could be challenged more,” says Maxwell Pfluger, a junior at Interlochen Arts Academy majoring in Dance. “I wanted to go to a place that could meet my needs.”

Lindy Sloan, a freshman studying dance at Interlochen, explains another major difference: the opportunity to work

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Why You Need A Business Manager

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Why You Need A Business Manager
Why do you need a business manager as opposed to a bookkeeper? We offer some reasons why.

There's more to being a business manager than paying bills and preparing payroll. A business manager is an essential staff member for the following reasons. According to ChatGPT, business managers are typically in charge of the day-to-day operations of the school, including managing employees, overseeing finances, making strategic decisions, and ensuring that the school is running efficiently and effectively. A business manager is a professional who focuses on the many responsibilities and duties that come with her job. Now, I can already hear some of you owners or heads of small schools thinking that all you need is a part-time bookkeeper. You hired credentialed, experienced teachers, to teach in your school, right? It would help if you did the same thing for the business side of your operation.

I asked ChatGPT why a small private school needed a business manager. Here's what ChatGPT said:

Financial Management: A business manager can help a small private school to manage their finances more efficiently. They can help to create and manage budgets, track expenses, and ensure that the school is using its resources in the most effective way possible.

Strategic Planning: A business manager can also help a small private school to develop a long-term strategic plan. This can include identifying new revenue streams, developing marketing strategies to attract new students, and finding ways to improve the school's overall financial performance.

Administrative Support: A business manager can provide administrative support to the school's leadership team, allowing them to focus on their

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Free Boarding Schools

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Free Boarding Schools
Thinking about sending your child to boarding school but are concerned that you can't afford it? Here are several free boarding schools as well as several schools that offer tuition-free educations for students from qualified families.

There are only a handful of free boarding schools in the United States. Most were founded many years ago by visionary, community-minded individuals who believed that children from the working class and poor families should have the same educational advantages as children from families with money. The impact these schools have had on society is enormous. The benefits to thousands of students and their families are priceless.

As you read about these schools and watch the videos, remember that all these schools believe emphatically that an education does not consist solely of academics. Each school understands that a child needs nurturing and counseling to make the most of the opportunities before him. In addition, these schools expect the child's family to be involved. His education is a partnership of three: home, school, and student. That's what it takes to provide the solid foundation a child needs to succeed in his adult life.

Girard College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Stephen Girard was one of the richest men in America when he founded Girard College in Philadelphia. The school is unique in that all students board at the school from 1st grade through 12th. For free. The school serves approximately 580 students in Grades 1-12. Almost 100% of its graduates matriculate to college.

'The school's benefactor, Stephen Girard (1750-1831), left his generous estate to educate and care for needy children. As long as Girard College has existed, all its students have received full scholarships, benefited from strong academic and

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Preventing Teen Suicide

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Preventing Teen Suicide
An essential guide for boarding school communities on preventing teen suicide. This comprehensive article explores warning signs, prevention strategies, and actionable steps for parents, teachers, administrators, and students to create a supportive environment and save young lives. Teen suicide is the 3rd largest killer of young adults between the ages of 15-24. You and I can prevent it.

Preventing Teen Suicide

Teen suicide is preventable. Boarding school communities have both the opportunity and responsibility to create an environment in which students feel supported, understood, and empowered to seek help. Recent research shows that school-based prevention programs are making a measurable difference - students at schools with comprehensive prevention programs are 25% less likely to attempt suicide, 13% less likely to make a suicide plan, and 10% less likely to have suicidal thoughts

Understanding the Current Landscape

Every year, there are reports of high school students taking their own lives.

  • Suicide casts a terrible pall over any school community. It just seems so pointless, so senseless.
  • I fonlymembers of the community acted on the signals the young person was most likely sending, that suicide could have been prevented.
  • The academic work in boarding school is heavy.
  • The pressures to succeed, get into the best college, and not let parents and others down, combined with the reality of adolescent uncertainties, can create a climate for depression.
  • Depression can lead to suicide.

However, suicide is preventable.

Warning Signs and Risk Factors

Suicide is the 3rd largest killer of young adults between the ages of 15-24. But teen suicide is preventable. Know the warning signs.

The following information from Kids Health tells you what to look for.

"Suicide among teens often happens after a stressful life event, such as problems at school, a breakup

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