Catholic Schools Week Challenge

January 16, 2019

Have you heard? Again in 2019 the Healey Education Foundation is challenging its current partner elementary schools to reach 85% re-registration by the close of Catholic Schools Week. Achieving a high re-registration rate by early February will increase your chances of reaching or exceeding your enrollment goal for the 2019-20 school year. It will also position you to shift your focus to recruitment for those grades that will require additional efforts to attract new families. In addition: grant money! 

The Challenge

Here are the guidelines:

  • The Healey Education Foundation has established a $5,000 pool to be shared among our current partner elementary schools that reach the 85% benchmark. (Read about last year’s winners.)
  • Winners will be determined based on data reported in the February 7, 2019 Healey Education Foundation registration reports.
  • The grant money is intended to be used for a recognition event for the faculty, staff, administration and volunteers who contributed to reaching the goal. Buy them lunch, plan an afternoon tea, meet as a group for a celebratory happy hour. Remember always: Say thank you!
  • Place any remaining money into the Advancement Director’s budget for discretionary use. 

Win More through the Playbook Challenge

This year, one ambitious school will be selected to receive an additional $250 as the winner of our 2019 Catholic Schools Week Playbook Challenge. You’re already doing the work to celebrate and promote your school, and submitting is easy.

Here’s How the Playbook Challenge Works:

  • Only schools that achieve 85% retention or higher by the close of Catholic Schools Week are eligible.
  • In an email sent to your Director of Schools by February 7, 2019, tell us about your top three most effective ways for advancing your school during Catholic Schools Week.
  • Your top three ways can be submitted as:
    • one PowerPoint slide OR
    • bullet points and/or visuals in a one-page Word document or PDF OR
    • simply described in the body of the email, with samples of your promotions or photos attached 
  • The winner will be selected based on:
    • effectiveness of the strategy or tactic (Have you planned proactively and reactively — touchdowns, field goals, lines of defense? Did you measure? Did it work?)
    • innovation
    • community impact, including the securing of TV or print media coverage the day of the event 

Keep your submission simple, but do remember to share with us about your work well done!  

Helpful Resources:

NCEA Catholic Schools Week Webpage

How to Use a Media Alert to Attract Media Coverage (The Nonprofit MarCommunity)

A Sample Media Alert (United Nations Foundation)