School Life

For boarding school students, and many teachers, the campus is home. Explore dormitory living, get expert advice on learning and living away from home and learn more about what can be done to help your child transition to and succeed in boarding school. Find resources for parents, teachers and students. We’ll cover sustainability, boarding school jargon, and corporal punishment. Read first-hand accounts from parents of boarding school students, find graduation gift ideas, and learn why small classes are effective.

View the most popular articles in School Life:

Emerging Challenges for Boarding Schools

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Emerging Challenges for Boarding Schools
Explore the pressing challenges facing boarding schools, from marketing difficulties and rising insurance costs to facility maintenance and recruitment of competent trustees and teachers. This article delves into these complex issues and proposes innovative strategies to overcome them.

Emerging Challenges for Boarding Schools

In the vast and evolving educational landscape, boarding schools have stood as beacons of tradition, discipline, and academic rigor.

  • These institutions not only provide quality education but also foster personal development, independence, and resilience in students.
  • However, boarding schools are currently navigating a complex maze of challenges.
  • The obstacles are multifaceted, from marketing difficulties and rising insurance costs to facility maintenance and recruitment of competent trustees and teachers.

This article aims to delve into these challenges and suggest potential solutions.

Marketing Challenges

Historically, boarding schools thrived on word-of-mouth marketing and their reputations for producing well-rounded, academically accomplished students.

  • However, shifting societal norms, increased competition, and the rise of digital media have disrupted these traditional strategies.
  • Boarding schools now face the challenge of attracting a diverse student body, both domestically and internationally, while also addressing concerns about the value of the boarding school experience.

To overcome these challenges, schools need to adopt personalized admissions processes that highlight the unique benefits of their institution.

  • Furthermore, leveraging digital marketing strategies, such as social media and content marketing, can extend their reach to prospective students and parents.
  • Crucially, boarding schools must work to create unique selling propositions that distinguish them from their competition and resonate with today's discerning families.

This video offers suggestions for marketing your school.

Rising

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School Marketing SEO: To Do and What Not to Do

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School Marketing SEO: To Do and What Not to Do
When searching on Google, how often do you venture beyond the first page of results? Do you click on the top-ranking website? Statistics show that 27.6% of people click on the first result they see on Google. So, the burning question is: How can you position your school in that coveted #1 spot?

When searching on Google, how often do you venture beyond the first page of results? Do you click on the top-ranking website? Statistics show that 27.6% of people click on the first result they see on Google. So, the burning question is: How can you position your school in that coveted #1 spot?

The answer lies in implementing effective search engine optimization (SEO) techniques for your school to rank highly on specific keywords. SEO involves tailoring your website to meet the criteria that Google considers when ranking websites. SEO is one of the most powerful tools for boosting your school’s enrollment marketing strategy.

First, what is a keyword? A keyword is anything a user searches on Google. When parents search “private school in Los Angeles,” you want to ensure you rank well on that keyword.

You might wonder if you need to be an SEO expert to improve your website's visibility and increase your keyword ranking. Fortunately, the answer is no! A significant portion of SEO can be accomplished organically by having a well-designed website and understanding the basics of what to do and what not to do.

Here are some top SEO to-dos and not to-dos to help reach that coveted #1 spot for school marketers.

  1. Content Is SO Important

    This cannot be understated. If your site hasn't been updated recently and lacks substantial written content, your first step is to (re) write fresh and engaging content. Google

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Navigating A Crisis: Best Practices in Public Relations for Boarding Schools

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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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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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School Life

FOR PARENTS
This section covers issues and concerns for parents of boarding school students. Explore corporal punishment, get expert advice on preventing hazing, and read first-hand accounts from parents. Learn what to do if things go wrong, see what boarding school students do in the summer, and get words of wisdom from a reluctant parent.
FOR STUDENTS
Here you’ll gain knowledge about student life at boarding school. User our glossary of terms to learn boarding school jargon, discover the importance of a partnership between school, parent and child, and find great gift ideas for the boarding school graduate.
FOR TEACHERS
The articles in this section are related to teaching at a boarding school. Learn more about what is being taught, why small class sizes work, and the impact of sustainability on boarding schools. You’ll find a list of eBooks about boarding schools, be able to view pictures of boarding school life, and explore course offerings.