Dear Priory Community,

The first few weeks of school have flown by, and I am impressed by the students, faculty and staff. Everyone has the desire to listen and comply with the safety strategies, even if it means we have to walk a bit further to get to class or to lunch.

Earlier this summer, I moved my office to the High School from the Switzer House. The energy is definitely different, and I enjoy seeing and hearing the boys. Here is an excerpt from a conversation outside my office door during the first week:

Student 1: “Wow, THIS is the best school I have ever gone to!”
Student 2: “Well you know it is ranked #1 in the state of Missouri!” 

I couldn’t have scripted it better!

Mission Advancement has several exciting things happening this year, and our plan is to keep you informed and ask for your help along the way. Here are some of the immediate items:

• We welcome Cathy Tweedie as our Director of Communications on Monday, Sept. 21. Cathy comes to us with many years of communications, marketing and public relations experience, most recently from the Special School District, where she was the Communications Manager for seven years. Cathy will work with Steve Oslica and myself to write, implement and evaluate a communications and marketing plan for the year.
• Admissions has been busy over the summer laying the ground work for a unique admissions season of virtual high school nights and in-person evening and weekend tours. We are also excited to share the most recent addition — a Virtual Tour of Priory. We hope you enjoy the debut of this outstanding video of our campus. Our target audience is a 5th or 6th grade boy — we feel it captures the essence of who and what we are.
• We launched a digital marketing campaign of online display ads, Facebook/Instagram ads and targeted Google Search to attract potential families to inquire and request a tour of Priory. This is the first time Priory has delved into the “digital marketing world,” and we are excited to see how it is received. 
• Thank you to the families who have reached out and offered to help us with potential students and parents. We will take you up on your offer over the next several months, so stay tuned.
• Our most important fundraising event — Xanadu – has been moved to Saturday, April 17, with the theme Cirque du Priory. Xanadu Chair Theresa Johnson and her team are well on their way to another outstanding event. We moved it later in the school year in hopes we will be able to be live and in person, but are also making plans for a virtual option.
• Later this fall we will reach out to you regarding the Priory Fund. Support of the Priory Fund is essential to the success of the school. Last year, 51% of our parents participated in the Priory Fund as well as 100% of our faculty, staff and Board of Advisors. The Priory Fund supports tuition assistance, technology, academic programming, faculty development, athletics, clubs and student activities.

We continue to be positive and are hopeful we will be able to celebrate all the wonderful Priory traditions in person as the year progresses. We thank you for being patient as we adjust to this “new normal” for the time being.

Laus Tibi Domine,

Janice Bailey
Assistant Head of School for Mission Advancement