Chair’s message

Dear SA/NT Chapter Members,

One thing I am always inspired with in being a part of the Educate Plus family is the engagement in professional conversations and sharing ideas in what we do. I experience this in every Board and Committee meeting I attend, and I am grateful for these opportunities.

What if we could extend these opportunities to you?

The goal of the SA/NT Chapter committee is to provide a wide variety of learning opportunities and face-to-face experiences for members hoping to foster inspiring and insightful conversations.

We know that our members really enjoy sharing ideas and we are here to connect people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to interact.

I would like to extend a personal invitation to set aside a couple of days each term to come together with Advancement professionals to talk about what you do and reflect on issues and trends as a group. I guarantee that you will not only have fun but will also leave having learned a great deal from each other.

Opportunities to network can come in different shapes and forms. This term we will be hosting coffee catch ups, networking events, and online webinars on topics like “Transgender Enrolments Law”, “How to structure major gifts” and more.

You could also join our online community, the SA/NT Facebook page, our own personal engagement hub, via the following link https://www.facebook.com/groups/santchapter

If you would like to reach out or bring a matter to our attention, please feel free to contact me directly via the details below.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Ana Gozalo
Educate Plus SA/NT Chapter Chair
agozalo@scotch.sa.edu.au
T: 08 8274 4340
M: 0413 032 115

Welcome to new our members

We are delighted to have you among us. On behalf of all the SA/NT members and head office, we would like to extend our warmest welcome and good wishes! Congratulations and we are all looking forward to your inputs and contribution to our wonderful association. We hope to see you at one of our networking events soon.

2021 International Conference (6-9 September)

Join many others who have already registered to attend by clicking on the link below to enjoy an international conference without having to travel! There will be a unique SA flavour at our social events, so come along and help showcase our state. Even if you are not able to attend the full program, please consider joining us for a day if you can. It’s a great opportunity to learn about a wide range of topics from high calibre speakers, all in one place.

If cost is an issue, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Bursaries and travel assistance packages are available for members to attend.

https://www.epadelaide2021.edu.au/

First coffee is free!

May coffee catch up. There is always a great buzz when we get together and share our stories over coffee. Come along, join in and create valuable connections with other people who work in our industry.    

No need to register, but please let us know if you’re coming so we can make the bookings agozalo@scotch.sa.edu.au.

Date: 20 May
Time: 7.30am – 9.30am
Cost:  Your first coffee is on us!
Venues:  Zeea’s Eatery The Golden Way, Golden Grove &  Wholly Belly 24 Magill Road, Norwood

Find out More

Hosted Webinar: Transgender legal issues around Admissions Your Questions Answered

We appreciate that all schools want to understand the concerns of transgender students and their families and here is your opportunity to ask the questions you have around this subject which will be shared with our presenter. Please email Ana on the email address below. 

David Ford – Partner in the Business, Personal and Communities & Associations groups at Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers who focuses on helping educational institutions and charities – speaks on Transgender Enrolments Law.

Date: Monday 19 July
Time: 11.00m – 12.00pm
Venue: Online

Ana Gozalo
Educate Plus SA/NT Chapter Chair
agozalo@scotch.sa.edu.au

Find out More

Networking Event

PD Topic: The Image Tells IS the Story

Date: Wednesday 2 June
Time: 5:00 – 7:00pm: Drinks, presentation (The Image Tells IS the Story) and networking.
Venue: The Mile End Hotel
Cost: FREE to members & non-members

We live in an image rich society, dictated by websites, social media, YouTube and TikTok.

School marketing, community engagement, media interest, and annual giving campaigns depend on stories told well, the smile on the face, the subtle interaction of teachers and students, and the relationships between students.

Let’s face it – pictures are worth a thousand words, but what language are they speaking?

Why will one photo drive engagement for school tours but another doesn’t? As an Advancement professional, how do you select THE image that will inspire your community to contribute to your Annual Giving campaign? How do you create the magic that tells the story – over and over again.

Janine Atkinson, Community Liaison Manager, Xavier College and Clark Rodda, Director, Festival City Photography will share their tips and tricks for tapping into the emotional response created when the Image IS the story.

Register Now!

Presenters

Janine Atkinson, Community Liaison Manager, Xavier College

Clark Rodda, Director, Festival City Photography

Fundraising: 7 last-minute improvements to your annual appeal

You are nearly set to go with your annual appeal letter. Here are seven simple improvements you can make to raise more money, suggested by AskRIGHT fundraising consultants.

1.   Launch

Phone your top 20 donors and invite them to attend a small reception to launch the annual appeal. Indicate you are asking them because of their previous support, and that you will ask them to make the annual appeal response before the launch as the Principal can announce a “Gifts so far” total at the launch. Ask Board members and senior staff to attend also and to make early responses.

2.   Phone

The week before mailing, phone your best 100 donors from last year to tell them you really appreciated their support for the last appeal, and ask them to look out for the appeal in the mail next week.

3.   Email

Email all those not contacted for launch or by phone, and tell them you really appreciated their support for the last appeal, and ask them to look out for the appeal in the mail next week

4.   Match

Try to find a donor, or get internal agreement for internal funds to match donations from a certain group of donors (perhaps last year’s school-leavers). Let the group know that donations made by a specific date will be matched. This is a good way to get first-time donors.

5.   Thank

Build the culture of philanthropy within the school or college by the easiest job of all, thanking people. Set up phones in the staff common room for one hour of phoning after school. Simple scripts: “I am … . I am phoning to thank you for your support of the school and our students through the annual appeal. It is really appreciated.” Accept pledges of further support if offered.

6.   Record

Finish the thank-you phone call with “Do you mind telling me what motivates you to support the school?” Write down the answers and record it on the database on each individual record. When you review the annual appeal results, analyse the motivations, and use these to inform next year’s appeal.

7.   Persist

Build in come reminders – don’t just rely on the initial request, and make you motto “no donor left behind.” Keep contacting the donors from the last two annual appeals until you get either “Yes” or “Hell, no”.

When it is all over:

• Plan to test any changes to next year’s appeal before full implementation;

AskRIGHT fundraising consultants have more than 100-year combined experience. Since 2004, AskRIGHT has helped many schools raise more money for their important project. Visit the AskRIGHT blog for more articles on fundraising and to talk to a fundraising consultant about your strategy and challenges.

Blackfriars open $10 million STEM and Year 12 learning complex

The 2021 school year at Blackfriars commenced with the opening of their $10 million STEM and Year 12 learning complex. The Aquinas Centre, which was fully-financed by the school, marks the beginning of major works as part of the school’s current Master Plan.

Designed by Adelaide architects, Swanbury Penglase, and built during 2020 by Partek Construction & Interiors, the building features science laboratories, tutorial-style ‘Think Tank’ rooms, an open-plan ‘Learning Commons’, traditional classrooms and teacher workspaces for individual and collaborative planning. All classrooms and teaching spaces are equipped for remote learning, future proofing against any potential lockdowns or changes to the way lessons are delivered.

It is the first major building development on the school’s Prospect site for some 40 years and sets a new standard for STEM teaching and learning while providing our Year 12 students with new purpose-built, tertiary-inspired communal spaces.

The centre was officially opened on 29 January by Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, Patrick O`Regan, to mark the feast the great 13^th century Dominican friar, scholar and theologian, St Thomas Aquinas. The evening prior, a Community Open Night was conducted with the opportunity for school families, old scholars and nearby residents to view the new building.

The Aquinas Centre is currently nominated for a number of architecture and construction awards. School leaders and educators wishing to visit are warmly invited to contact us to make arrangements to do so.

Watch video