Partnering with Families Through the Admissions Process

What does it look like to welcome families into a faithfully Catholic school community? In this episode, Dr. Jaime Madison Vasquez sits down with two Catholic school leaders to explore how mission-driven admissions can form lasting partnerships with families from the very first tour.Guests* Tyler Deschamps, Head of School, Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania* John Rocha, Principal, Holy Rosary Academy, Nashville, TennesseeWhat We Cover* How to embed Catholic mission into every stage of the admissions process, from marketing materials to parent questionnaires* Informal and formal strategies for assessing mission fit during tours, shadow days, and interviews* The full admissions process step-by-step: inquiry, open house, shadow day, application, and enrollment* How to onboard new families into the community during the “golden window” between admission and the first day of school* Go-to phrases and frameworks school leaders use to open families up and communicate what their school is truly aboutChapters* 00:00: Welcome and Guest Introductions* 04:02: Communicating Mission Through Marketing and Admissions* 11:15: Assessing Mission Fit: Formal and Informal Approaches* 16:32: The Admissions Process Step by Step* 27:46: Honesty and Discernment in Admissions* 32:07: Recognizing Families Who Are Ready to Partner* 40:38: Onboarding New Families into the Community* 47:51: Lessons from Business and Previous Schools* 53:00: Celebrating Families at Graduation and Beyond* 57:35: Go-To Phrases for Admissions ConversationsQ&A* Is there anything from your time before your current school (Tyler, from business, or John, from Ozark or Western Academy) that you think worked particularly well in the admissions process?* Do you have any special traditions to mark the end of a family’s journey with your school?* Do you have a go-to phrase in your conversations with parents during the admissions process that helps open them up or explain your school?Resources:* From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age by University of Mary and Monsignor James P. Shea (Amazon, Thriftbooks)* Niche.com* Calendly.comJoin the conversation* Leave a comment and subscribe at familiaris.substack.com* Become a paid subscriber at familiaris.substack.com/subscribePaid subscribers gain access to monthly collaborative office hours. Office hours are hosted on Zoom and are not recorded. Pop in to ask a question, get feedback on what you’re working on with families, hear what other leaders are doing in their schools.Upcoming dates:* Monday, April 27th at 3pm CST* Monday, May 11 at 3pm CSTVisit familiaris-consulting.com to learn more about consulting, workshops, and speaking engagementsGod bless!Produced by Saint Kolbe StudiosTo receive new Familiaris posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Familiaris at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe