In high school and college, I loved being able to cheer on my teams.  It was always so much fun to see the wave of school colors flowing through the stands.  With foam noodles, hands and claws imprinted with your school logo, fans can show their spirit all games and events.

Check out some of our team spirit products, including those below, and show your pride!

4imprint recently published a Blue Paper entitled Corporate Involvement in Schools, and I thought it would be very helpful for schools as they plan for the new school year.  Although it is directed at business, it can be a great resource on how you can partner with businesses to benefit your school.

Local companies can attend career fairs on your campus, to provide details on their industries or specialties to students. You could also work with a business to set up a work shadow program, which would allow students to follow local professionals for a day or two, to understand what is all involved in a career that interests them.  Beyond career information, there are also opportunities for collaboration on fundraisers, student performance incentives, and sponsorship opportunities.  The business that you partner with benefits by becoming more visible in the community, promoting their name, and possibly tax benefits from donations to the school, so teaming up becomes a win for both the school and the business.

Take a look at the Blue Paper, or listen to the Podcast.  There may be some ideas you want to pursue.

Are you already thinking about the upcoming school year, too?  I recently ran across an article in Teacher Magazine listing some suggested to-dos for new teachers, and it got me thinking about a newsletter that 4imprint published last year, about welcoming new staff members. I remember this one clearly, since I had mentioned it to some friends and family who are teachers.

Both the article and the newsletter have some great ideas on engaging students on day 1, introducing new teachers to the staff, and mentoring, to make the school year enjoyable for all. Maybe some of the ideas in these articles will work for your school, or maybe they’ll spark other ideas that you can use.  Either way, everyone should feel comfortable on the first day of classes!

I know this is a simple, value-priced product, but for those of us who love to read – especially business materials –  it’s a great item.  Also handy for spending quality time with contracts or other legal or detailed material.  Who doesn’t love that?

While I dropped my daughter off at daycare yesterday, I found a note in her cubby outlining some new things for the summer months.  First, and of most interest to her, was that we should bring in swimsuits, swimmers, and towels.  In the hot dog days of summer, which we have to take advantage of in Wisconsin, they will be splashing around in sprinklers and wading pools.  The second item was a request that all kids have mesh bags for their swim clothes, so the wet clothes and materials can breathe and not get moldy.

I thought this was a really great idea!  So I dug through my vast selection of bags and found a Soft Mesh Tote, which is the perfect size for my daughter’s swim gear.   It’s stylish as well, so, as always, she and I will look good as we carry her wet clothes home!

Spreading the word leads to growth
Traders Point Christian Academy

Traders Point Christian Academy has a 33-year history of helping develop well-rounded and spiritually mature adults.

Started in 1976 as a pre-school, the non-denominational Christian School was originally located adjacent to its namesake church.  But, after years of growth, the K-9 school needed its own, state-of-the-art facility.

“We’ve just continued to grow,” said Linda Becker, registrar, Traders Point Christian Academy.  “Our staff are seasoned and experienced.  Our first headmaster was with us for 21 years. Our new superintendent also has over 25 years of experience in the Christian high school and college areas. It’s that history and future that make us different.”

As a small, private, accredited school of 550 students, Traders Point Christian Academy uses print advertisements, open houses, word-of-mouth marketing and a Web site to build awareness.

Promotional products are an important part of the mix.

When a family is considering enrolling their student at Traders Point Christian Academy, the school invites the student to be a guest for a day, shadowing another student and learning what school life is like.  At the end of the day, each student guest receives a water bottle, imprinted with the school’s logo, as a remembrance of their visit.

At public events, like the county fair or street fairs, the school hands out imprinted items, to build awareness of their programs.

Leaders say the reputation the school has built over the last 30 years is key in recruitment efforts.

“We have families who leave us because they are relocated to another city or state,” Becker said.  “They often tell us that they couldn’t find another Traders Point in their new location.”

The school is now planning another expansion-to offer 10th, 11th and 12th grade coursework in the next three years.  The expansion provides the school another opportunity to build on the reputation that began with a small pre-school in 1976.