Make the Most of September Momentum Before the Moment Passes
September is one of the most high energy times on your campus. Families are still seeing your school with fresh eyes. New staff are forming impressions. Returning students are finding their rhythm and reconnecting with your community.
For school leaders, the focus is often on logistics and operations: divisions, staffing, onboarding, and routines. But behind every packet, every classroom visit, and every parent conversation, something else is happening:
🟡 You are shaping perception
🟡 You are gathering feedback
🟡 You are creating content without even trying
And that means: you are marketing.
Here are five strategic opportunities to elevate your marketing in September:
1. Organize and Share Your Early Year Content
By now, your first week photos and videos are sitting on phones, cameras, and inboxes. Do not let them go unused. These early moments such as nervous smiles and proud parents are authentic gold for your school story.
📸 Action Step:
Collect the best photos, videos, and quotes from the first week. Organize them by theme such as students, faculty, and community life so they are easy to repurpose later.
🎯 Use It For:
• Recap videos
• Admissions pages
• Social reels and TikToks
• Faculty highlights
2. Gather Testimonials While Emotions Are Fresh
The first weeks of school are when families feel most connected or most uncertain. Capture their perspective while emotions are still high.
💬 Action Step:
Send a short form asking: “What stood out most to you during your first weeks?” You will be surprised how many respond, especially if they are happy.
🎯 Use It For:
• Social proof on your website
• Parent voices in marketing campaigns
• Quote graphics for open house season
3. Support Admissions With International and New Families
Even though your international students are now on campus, the acclimation is far from over. This is often when homesickness peaks. Cultural differences, language barriers, and health challenges can make September one of the hardest adjustment periods. New families from across town can struggle too because routines are unfamiliar and expectations are still being tested.
🌍 Action Step:
Create a simple welcome guide or ongoing support plan for international and new families. Include reminders about resources, who to contact for help, and invitations to join community events. Small, intentional gestures now can turn a vulnerable family into a loyal advocate.
🎯 Use It For:
• Strengthening referrals from international families
• Reducing mid year attrition
• Building a reputation for care and inclusivity
4. Use Onboarding as a Retention Tool
The way you support staff and families in their first 60 days sets the tone for long term engagement.
🚀 Action Step:
• Pair new staff with mentors and connect their role to the school’s broader mission
• Follow up with new families after week two with a personal check in or coffee
🎯 Use It For:
• Higher retention
• Better culture alignment
• Deeper trust with leadership
5. Track What Families Are Thinking Right Now
This is the time to gather insights before everyone gets too busy. Ask yourself:
📊 Why did this family choose us
📊 What is surprising them good or bad
📊 Are our systems for collecting this data working
🧠 Action Step:
Run a short survey or pulse check after the first two to three weeks. Segment responses by new and returning families to spot patterns early.
🎯 Use It For:
• Refining messaging
• Improving onboarding
• Fueling future admissions campaigns
Final Thought: Do Not Let This Moment Pass You By
September is not just about operations running smoothly. It is about setting the tone for the entire year. The impressions families and staff are forming right now will stay with them all year. This is your window to build trust, collect insights, and capture your school’s story in motion.
👉 If your team needs support turning September momentum into enrollment strategy, Schoolcraft Digital is here to help.
