The Future of Field Days

Each country field day brings about an air of nostalgia and family tradition. Where families, grandparents and kids travel far and wide to ensure they make it to the day. Some local schools get the day off while many boarding students exit campus quietly to ensure they won't miss out on one of their favourite days of the year.

Country Field Days are known for their excitement, heavy machinery and the wonderful opportunity for all kids big and small to do the rounds to see how many free items they can pack into bags, under arms or placed somewhere on their body!

The Education Tent is a must stop for most families when attending a Field Day. Connecting with the schools and staff who are or were a big part of their families lives or the opportunity to suss out which school would suit their child best. The Education Tent is always buzzing, with smiles, laughter and so many stories about the mischief that was caused ‘back in the day’.

There is a very traditional format when it comes to Field Day events for boarding schools; a well presented stall, beautiful banners, a stand floating in the middle, gift bags hanging merrily on the sides of the stall plus a bunch of wrist bands, stickers, footballs and hats waiting for the next kid to whiz on by. Warmly fronted by one or two boarding and/or teaching staff with the additional bonus of a few current boarding students.

In states like Western Australia, there are 13 different Fields Days, Fairs and Shows, that many boarding schools will attend across the school year. Boarding schools will also take this time on the road to connect with old and new families alike either by staying with a local host family or putting on a cocktail style drinks event.

For boarding schools to attend these events it takes a huge investment in time, energy and money as these connections matter. So why is it that all boarding schools are running with the same format as each other every year? Each boarding school stands side by side, offering a similar sentiment wanting to ensure that they are front of mind when it comes to choosing a new boarding school. If this is the case, why not shake up the old model and start breathing some new life into Field Days?

Some questions you might like to consider when it comes to reflecting on your current format of Field Day events...

●     Have you considered value adding to your current offering?

●     Educating and informing as well as socialising?

●     Supporting your current and future families by bringing the education process forward?

●     Starting the transition and engagement process today as many families take years to make a decision about where to send their child?

●     Showing rather than just telling what makes your school so unique?

Some ways you can start to 'value add' to your next Field Day

●     Organise a presenter who specialises in a particular area boarding field e.g. Boarding Transition and invite them to present before your drinks event

●     Get a current boarding student who has settled into boarding and share their journey from before boarding to now

●     Get a family to share their story and journey and the positive experiences, realities and new learnings boarding school life

Why consider 'value adding' to your next Field Day/Show?

●     The opportunity for families bring a plus one, which is a great way to expand the network and increase to future student numbers and connections

●     Reducing the considerable anxiety and creating familiarity about life in boarding school before families step foot on campus

●     Being known as the 'expert' in boarding, sharing knowledge and resources to help support families before arriving at your school/college

●     Starting the boarding conversation earlier with families allows you to better understand their needs, share their excitement and/or concerns

●     Allowing families to know that they are not alone and have similar questions and concerns

Value adding doesn't take any more time and energy to the already established process and tradition, it allows you to carve a new path forward and claim a new part of the boarding market which is increasingly becoming more competitive.

The Boarding Transition Process

The boarding school transition process is a process whereby parents and their kids start the process of getting ‘ready’ for the move to boarding school life. Boarding school transitions can start very early on whether it be at home, or in an environment the student is already comfortable with such as at a local Field Day. The transition process happens in those moments where family members reminisce on old tales of their experience or a local kid comes back from boarding school during school holidays. It is crucial to consider when it comes to boarding transition, it is those small creature comforts and traditions that boarding students and families hold dear.

What can Boarding Transition do for our school?

For schools who would like to evaluate their current boarding transition process, My Parent Connect offers a complimentary transition audit. The audit encompasses reviewing current Orientation processes, relationship building opportunities, finding ways to further connect with families and students or establishing processes to bridge the education gap for students moving into their new living and learning environment.

“Our experience with My Parent Connect was fantastic. My Parent Connect’s highly professional and yet incredibly friendly and engaging approach helped create the perfect atmosphere for both students and parents to feel comfortable and form strong relationships and get a good understanding of the school”. Head of Boarding, Scotch College, WA

If you are excited by the opportunity of bringing fresh life into your boarding schools tour, broadening your boarding family reach or supporting your current boarding community with resources about how to best support their child, My Parent Connect would love to help. Whether it be by presenting at your next event or tailoring your transition process, connect with us at www.myparentconnect.com.au or email [email protected].

Teneeka Hill - Boarding School Transition Facilitator

My Parent Connect