Ordering Badges & Lanyards
We are excited to be able to offer school IDs/name badges for Guidepost and ATI staff and ATI students. Name badges are a simple yet effective way to create connection to our schools both with parents and internally within your school team.
Who will be receiving ID badges & lanyards?
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ATI: Staff + Students, Virtual Students
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Guidepost: Staff only
How To Order:
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Please fill out the provided excel data sheet completely, as all of the fields included are necessary to create, print, and ship an ID badge. Download the template here.
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Along with the excel sheet, you will need to provide photos for each person who needs a badge. Please provide un-cropped JPG or PNG photo files, named logically so that the badging team knows who’s photo belong to who’s record info. (The higher quality the photo, the higher quality the finished badge photo will be)!
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Once you have all of your order information completed and ready to go, simply click on the link to the eXpress badging™ upload center.
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Fill out the basic contact information fields, then drag and drop your order folder (including the excel sheet!) into the area titled “Drag your files here.”
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Simply click the “Upload” button, and you’re all done! 😊
Equipment: Use a DSLR, digital camera or the latest iPhone to produce the highest quality photo possible. You can ask around your staff to borrow an iPhone or camera if needed.
Dress for Success: Keep dress as natural and professional as possible. Encourage solid colors. Avoid white tops, busy patterns, tank tops, and dangly jewelry which may be distracting.
Location: Pick a consistent location, ideally either against a solid wall or outdoors with some greenery in the distant background. Ensure there are no distractions in foreground or background. The subject should be taking up most of the frame.
Distance: Depending on the focal length of the camera, you want your subject to have enough room between them and the background to create separation.
Aspect Ratio: If you are using an iPhone, please ensure you are shooting vertical. If you are using a DSLR, please shoot 3:2 aspect ratio in camera.
Lighting: Do not take photos with the sun or bright light behind or above your subject. The best time of day is shortly after sunrise or shortly before sunset when the sun is low in the sky, or on an overcast day, so that there is no harsh light.
Positioning: Photos are more natural when people are not standing square to the camera. Angle the body a little and tilt or turn head toward the camera.
We have included examples of successful headshots below:
Still have questions? Submit a ticket here
A Guide to Events for Guidepost Montessori
Whether you're planning your first open house or a series of themed playdates, here are a few seasonal and continual event suggestions to inspire and plan events.
Get inspired by these amazing events produced by our very own school leaders here!
Best Practice Reminders:
1. Run 1 event per month: they are a great opportunity to engage new and existing families.
2. Each school has a monthly budget of $500. Consult with your RD to approve changes in your budget.
3. Create a flyer and social media graphic in MediaValet to share with your community!
4. If you have an event where you can invite prospective families, reach out to marketing on Wayfinder (3 week notice required) so that we can help drive attendance, RSVPs, and support making your event a success!
August and September Events
Back to School Open House
Build excitement for the upcoming school year by hosting a Back to School Open House!
What makes it Back to School: Provide current and prospective families with "supplies" from our swag ordered from Montessori Marketplace or throw a raffle for items from The Guidepost Store.
Open House Basics: During an open house event, prospective parents and children are invited to tour our school, meet the staff, see the classroom, and learn more about Montessori and the benefits of Guidepost. It lasts for about two hours and parents can drop in during the 2-hour window. Tours are conducted throughout for individual families or at a set time for a group. The goal is to get the parents excited and invite them to enroll.
Key supplies: Signs and banners, tour folders, fold up table with table throw, Back to School Sticker Sheet, refreshments (small water bottles and packaged snacks from your local store, add a Guidepost Sticker to make it branded!)
August and September Events
Back to School Festival
Welcome back current families by celebrating the beginning of a new year and invite new families to get acquainted with your community.
What makes it Back to School: Provide current and prospective families with "supplies" from our swag ordered from Montessori Marketplace or throw a raffle for items from The Guidepost Store. Set up the Guidepost backdropwith the social media signs and fun props for an easy photo op for parents to share on social media.
What makes it a Festival: Invite local entertainment and food vendors. Search for vendors or use current partnerships. Great examples include food trucks, local restaurants and bakeries, bubble artists, bouncy houses, etc.
For Prospective Families: Provide the opportunity for ongoing tours and tour folders for prospective and current families interested in move ups.
Key supplies: Signs and banners, tour folders, fold up table with table throw, refreshments (provided by vendors, or small water bottles and packaged snacks from your local store, add a Guidepost Sticker to make it branded!)
Classic Events
Grand Opening
Grand opening is one of the most important events we host for the families in our school community. We use the grand opening event to announce to the local community that our school has joined the community and is now enrolling. The event takes place before or after a school is open and it usually lasts for about 3 hours. It’s a large-scale event with 100+ attendees including current families, prospective families and general leads in the community. There is a defined theme (carnival, festival, etc) and a few activities designed for the children and their families. The goal is to drive enrollment but also connect with existing families and staff and the larger community.
Best Practice: Bring in local vendors for food and activites, games, prizes, and decorations. Provide stations for different activities that could include facepainting, gardening, arts and crafts, etc.
Key supplies: Signs and banners, tour folders, fold up table with table throw, gift bags for guest with items from the Montessori Marketplace, and the Guidepost backdrop with the social media signs and fun props for an easy photo op for parents to share on social media.
ongoing events
Local Partnerships
Find local vendors and neighborhood groups to work with to find new families. Do you or your guides have a favorite coffee shop or local café for breaks? Is there a local golf course that is popular in your community? Introduce yourself and see if they can feature your school or bring their business to you! Local chambers of commerce, neighborhood festivals and farmers markets are also great opportunities to get the word out about your school with table space and a fun Montessori activity.
Key supplies: Signs and banners, tour folders, swag ordered from Montessori Marketplace, table throw, refreshments (small water bottles and packaged snacks from your local store, add a Guidepost Sticker to make it branded!)
Share your event!
Social media is a great way to spread the word in your community about your upcoming event!
Post 2-3 times on Facebook and Instagram before your event.
