The District of San Francisco New Orleans (SFNO) Office of Communications held its first School Communications Directors Workshop October 9 – 11 at Mont La Salle. Communications directors, advancement directors, webmasters, and marketing directors from 10 schools attended the gathering.
2016 School Communications Directors Workshop participants.
The theme of the Workshop was “The Role of Communications in Our Institutions”, and focused on the areas of school, District, Region, and Institute communications, with overviews on the structure and operation of each. Presentation and discussion sessions included topics on the ministry of the school communications director; communications and institutional advancement; online communications; and best practices.
The Workshop was facilitated by Bob Carrejo, Communications Director for the SFNO District. Presenters were Elizabeth Jodice, Communications Director for Christian Brothers Conference, Washington, D.C.; Brother Donald Johanson, Visitor, SFNO District; and Mike Daniels, Office of Education-Mont La Salle Director, SFNO District. The participants also received an introduction to the District Archives from Jennifer Sturm, Archives Director, and Brother Emmet Sinitiere, FSC, Archivist.
Participants at one of the Workshop sessions.
A number of communications-related resources were provided to the attendees, including District Lasallian glossaries, style and publications guides, District and Region event calendars, communications links, and the always-popular Christian Brothers Conference Pocket Calendar and Directory of Places.
In keeping with the District’s other job-alike gatherings, the Workshop was an opportunity for Lasallian formation, professional networking, and personal relationship-building. Participants shared prayer, meals, and social time in addition to work sessions. They also received a tour of Mont La Salle by Brother Mark Murphy, FSC, and several were able to visit nearby Justin-Siena High School.
Workshop presenters (L-R) Elizabeth Jodice, Br. Donald Johanson, Bob Carrejo, and Mike Daniels.
According to Carrejo, “The primary goal of the Workshop was for the participants to consider their work within the larger contexts of Lasallian family and mission, and where and how it all fits. These are the ultimate audience and purpose of programmatic communications in our schools. We work backwards from there in order to design and implement our school message and communications. In a sense, all Lasallian communication is local.”
As the Workshop concluded, plans were underway to provide for ongoing coordination of information and resource sharing among the participants and their schools.
The Workshop participants were:
John Blackstock, La Salle High School, Pasadena, CA
Travis Craddock, San Miguel High School, Tucson, AZ
Brother Lawrence Haley, FSC, De La Salle High School, Concord, CA
Karen Hebert, Saint Paul’s School, Covington, LA
Marie Lawler, De La Salle Academy, Concord, CA
Jeanne Gray Loughman, Saint Mary’s College High School, Berkeley, CA
Thomas Melendez, San Miguel High School, Tucson, AZ
Eileen Mize, Justin-Siena High School, Napa, CA
Mimi Monteiro, Saint Paul’s School, Covington, LA
Bryan Ossa, La Salle High School, Pasadena, CA
Mark Pardini, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, San Francisco, CA
Lawrence Puck, Saint Mary’s College High School, Berkeley, CA
Richard Reso, Christian Brothers School, New Orleans, LA
Natalie Reyes, Christian Brothers High School, Sacramento, CA
Ami Zach, Mullen High School, Denver, CO
Photos courtesy SFNO Communications and Christian Brothers Conference.
