As the school year draws to a close, worried students attempt to boost their grades while busy teachers make plans for next year?s curriculum. However, the campus administration also faces a large agenda as they organize enrollment for the upcoming year.
A student recruitment push has quickly spread across campus as a result of the recently introduced concept, ?Feed the Funnel?, a phrase coined by Jon Endicott, vice principal.
?This was a term I used in explaining the overall idea to Mr. [Tim] Wilkins [Superintendent],? Endicott said. ?Students who are currently enrolled at Fresno Chrisitian are in the bottom of the funnel, and those who are interested in enrolling are sort of on the brim.
?Our goal is to encourage those students who are interested through a series of advertisments, marketing, and events and that eventually they will trickle down into the bottom of the funnel.?
Endicott also explained that the major focus is for current students to bring in more students for the upcoming years.
?Our current students are the best recruiters because they know what we?re looking for,? Endicott said. ?We know our students are very reputable and wouldn?t recommend to us someone who wouldn?t be a positive addition to the environment. We want kids who are serious about school and who have a deep spiritual sense.?
One of the focuses of the annuel student leadership sponsered new student lunch is to provide those new to campus with a unique and welcoming experience to the school.
“One of the reasons I left University high school was because my cousins came to this school,” Chris Tharpe, ’08, said. “They said that they had a great time here so I wanted to try it. The new student lunch was really cool because I got to meet a lot of new people.”
Families of current campus students have been offered a $500 discount in tuition if they recommend someone who enrolls. The new student is also exempt from the $100 application fee.
?I think the whole thing is a really good idea,? Bethany Morton, ?06, said. ?Kids would probably rather go to a school if their peers encouraged it rather than a bunch of adults. Besides, we need a more diverse atmosphere anyway.?
Endicott is not particularly worried about negative recommendations.
?One of the reasons that we trust campus students to refer high quality kids is because they will have to interact with each other on a daily basis,? Endicott said. ?Students that aren?t the right fit for Fresno Christian don?t usually last here. We want students to come to our school for the right reasons, so we?re focusing more on quality, not quantity.?
However, Endicott did explain the long-term goal to expand the school in a very slow, but manageable, way.
?We wouldn?t be able to handle 100 new students next year,? Endicott said. ?But over time, we?d like valuable additions to be made to our overall environment. Eventually we want to become a bigger school.?
Some students are unaware of the recent recruitment push.
?Is that how new students hear about Fresno Christian?? Sarah Mesple, ?07, said. ?I never really thought about telling my other friends to come here, but I can start.?
Currently there is a plan for expansion. Endicott discussed a few construction projects in the works, but overall, current emphasis is on a strong student environment.
For more information about campus enrollment contact Endicott at [email protected] or contact the high school office at 299-1695, ext. 5.
