Art projects, sidewalk chalk, ice cream and dinosaurs, the life of an admissions representative (AR) can be multifaceted. ARs work all year to recruit new families, promote their schools throughout the community, and coordinate with school leadership. Forsyth Academy Admissions Representative Stephenee Armas said summer events are very important.
“Admissions events, especially over summer when staff and administrators are out of the building, are crucial,” Armas said. “At least one caregiver at every event has questions about our school. Parents are busy and don't always have time to call or drive to the school. When we schedule events and send invitations, parents can carve that time out of their busy schedules in advance.”
That creates opportunities to connect with more people in the neighborhoods around the school and share information about the many reasons NHA schools are outperforming their local districts.
“Admissions is there to step in and present various opportunities for new families to get their questions answered, meet a member of staff, and connect a face to the school,” she said. “I find this makes families feel more like FAmily (Forsyth Academy’s way of using their initials in the word “family” to show their love of their school community) and less like a filled seat – they feel confident they made the right decision to choose an NHA school. At FA, FAmily is everything.”
One recent event was held at a local park which has a dinosaur theme. Armas had crafts and sweet treats on-hand as well.
“There are huge dinosaur statues that the kids can climb all over. Most of the scholars who came didn't even know this park existed, so it was nice to see them in a new environment, enjoying their friends outside of school."
Armas said these events make for a great way to get current students together back together as well, after being away from each other after school let out.
“I was also able to reconnect with some incoming kindergarteners and their parents. We discussed Forsyth's new dress code, our upcoming new family orientation, and open house.”
Great work creating opportunities for new and current families to interact, Forsyth!
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About Forsyth Academy
Forsyth Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes over 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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