New families want to know what the first day will actually look like. Returning families want to know what to keep in mind as the first day approaches. Social media is often where they are all checking for updates.
Here are five simple ways to use social media well this back-to-school season.
1. Share useful details
A countdown post (“5 days to go!”) is easy to scroll past. Make it useful by including real information families need: drop-off times, what to bring, what to wear. Add a short welcome video from the principal or a lead guide. This puts a familiar face in front of new families before day one, so the first day feels less unfamiliar.
2. Answer common questions before parents have to ask
Every school gets the same questions every August: What time is pickup? Is there a uniform? Who do I call if my child is sick? How does lunch work? Post short, clear answers – one topic per post – so families can find them easily.
This saves your front office from repeating the same answers all week, especially during the busiest week of the year. Keep the details separate for each program, since Toddler, Casa, and Elementary schedules are usually different.
3. Show a normal Montessori school day
Film a child choosing their own work. Show a quiet work cycle. Show a guide observing instead of directing. Don’t over-explain it, just show it. A parent watching a child work independently understands what Montessori looks like, and won’t need captions or voice overs to do so. See the video at the bottom of this blog for an example from Greentree Montessori!
4. Ask your current students for advice
Ask a few returning students one simple questions: What do you wish you’d known on your first day? Or, what’s one tip you’d give a new student? A video or even a photo with a quote works well. Kids are honest in a way that’s hard to fake, and it shows new families that your school looks out for its newest members.
5. Post a short recap after week one
Most schools post a lot on day one, then go quiet. A short recap at the end of week one – a few photos from the classrooms – keeps families engages and shows the year is off to a good start.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need more content. You need each post to answer a real question a family has. Be thoughtful in your approach and why you are posting something. Being helpful to your new families will create positive goodwill for returning families as well as for prospective families. Start with one of these five ways, and build from there.
All the best as you approach your new school year!