Many Christian parents question the value of Christian schools. Discussions of schooling can often become arguments. Covenant Christian School is located on the Northern Beaches of Sydney Australia. The school wanted to help Christian families start discussions about the role of Christian education – but to do it in a non-confrontational way.

They decided video testimonies would help as parents are more likely to trust and listen to other parents than pastors or school staff. In the process they realized the video could have a far wider audience if it didn’t mention their school.

I work part time at the school as a Storyteller. It’s a great community and I was thrilled the school was willing to help other Christian schools rather than just do self promotion.

The final 17 minute DVD has been distributed to the school community and is available for other schools to purchase. A Why Christian Schools website was also created which features all of the content plus an 8 page booklet. The 17 minutes have been broken up into six separate videos. Each one addresses a different common ‘objection’ to Christian schools. These videos can be embedded in other school websites to help them communicate the ‘Why’ behind Christian education.

We realized a 17 minute DVD wasn’t going to change everyone’s opinion or understanding of schools but we hope it will create some discussions.

The website also has a blogsite featuring promotional video for Christian schools from around the world. This is designed to help parents understand there is a wide variety of Christian schools and better prepare them to ask questions.

Covenant Christian School believes it is up to parents to raise their children. The school can assist them but can’t or shouldn’t replace them. The DVD and website project is designed to help remind them of their role and that schools can also help or hinder them in their roles.

Neil Pierson

I tell stories. True stories. As a marketing consultant to small businesses and schools my main role is that of a Storyteller. Stories people can believe in and repeat to their friends. It’s fun and I love the variety.

www.marketplaceanswers.com.au

The post The WHY behind Christian Schools appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.

Christian schools are sometimes wary of the internet. Yet Covenant Christian School in the Northern Beaches of Sydney Australia is finding the school website and very active blogsite is helping build community.

In May 2008 the school of 800 students K-12 launched it’s fourth website. This one however was radically different in it included a blogsite. For more than 2 years they have been adding an average of two new stories every school day. The previous website had about 30 photos. This one already has over 7,000.

By including lots of photos as well as videos to the blogsite the existing school community is FAR more aware of what is happening at school.

The actual ‘product’ of the school hasn’t changed. There is still the same number of events, excursions and activities as before. Yet now the perception is we have far more going on at school. The only difference is we share far more news about it.

The school has grown more in 2 years than in the previous 10.

The blogsite also gives our parents the ability to share events at school with other members of their family and friends. As some parents only have kids in Junior School or in High School the blogsite lets them know what is happening right throughout the school. This is important for cross marketing.

When the website was dull no one in the existing community would send a link to it if people asked about the school. Now that our existing parents like the site they are far more willing to send a link to it when prospective parents ask about the school.

The website also creates a more accurate impression of the use of technology in the classrooms. When the website was dull – with no reason to return – it gave the impression the school was not embracing technology and was old fashioned.

Check out the three links sections of the Covenant Christian School Sydney website:

• Main school site
• Community site/blog
• Alumni site

How is your using social media or blogs to develop community online and offline? What steps might you take online to develop community?

Neil Pierson

I tell stories. True stories. As a marketing consultant to small businesses and schools my main role is that of a Storyteller. Stories people can believe in and repeat to their friends. It’s fun and I love the variety.

www.marketplaceanswers.com.au

The post Christian School in Australia Leading the Way with Blogsite appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.