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CREATIVE CONCEPT
Hashtag Thankful Project
Developed for Midland Christian School October 4, 2015 SUMMARY
Midland Christian School is a private school providing a classical education on a foundation of Biblical Truth based in Midland, Michigan. Enrollment is about 100 students and 65 family units. The school has a desire to both build the awareness and reputation of its brand, as well as build enrollment. Even more fundamentally, the school has a pastoral desire to build Christian character in its students, something that is congruent with the school’s Christian foundation and classical emphasis. The Thanksgiving holiday, a celebration at the intersection of the spiritual and secular, provides a special opportunity to positively influence students, their families and the community at large. Originally conceived to “to give Him praise for His goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of His Providence” and based on the Jewish festival of Sukkot, the meaning of Thanksgiving has largely been displaced by secular celebration of “family” and as a precursor to the holiday shopping season. Likewise, American culture, and specifically the millennial generation, has been accused of new levels of self-centeredness and materialism. At such a time as this, Midland Christian School stands in a unique position to be able to help redeem the importance of thanks within the season of Thanksgiving, to the glory of God and the benefit of the students and families within its sphere of influence. In providing this blessing there is the potential to be blessed in return through the enhancement of the brand and development of positive relations within the community.
THE BIG IDEA
Implement a campaign during the pre-Thanksgiving season in which children and families post photos of themselves holding signs describing things for which they are thankful on social media channels with the hashtag #thankful, as a conduit for implementing family discussions and behavior changes focused on strengthening the distinctly Christian virtue of thankfulness, thereby establishing Midland Christian School as a leader in developing such character qualities within its students and an excellent choice for receiving an education.
AUDIENCES
Students PK-12 at Midland Christian School Parents and extended families of Midland Christian School students The extended community and internetsphere through word of mouth
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AMBITION
The objectives of this campaign would include: 1. To focus student and faculty attention upon gratitude as a Christian virtue. 2. To influence audience behaviors toward more thankfulness, which has the potential to positively affect student attitudes, learning and discipline. 3. To be a witness to the community and culture of the power of Christian virtues. 4. To gain recognition for Midland Christian School as a leader in promoting thankfulness among its students and families, to the degree that this can be done without diminishing the primary objectives of the campaign.
COMPETITORS
Complacency - The primary competitor to this concept is complacency, in other words, the lack of intentionality that results in doing nothing, thus missing the opportunity for creating a more positive future. Thus, scheduled time and planned activities are essential elements that need to be stressed. Family, Food & Football – Our culture has largely refocused this holiday to be a celebration of “family” instead of its namesake. Activities tend to focus on food preparation and sporting events, driving out the original and true purpose for the special day. While family, food and football are not in and of themselves bad, they have the potential choke out the young seed of thankfulness that the holiday was originally intended to nurture, especially among young children. Turkeys – Themes and children’s emphasis on turkey symbols can overshadow and muddle the understanding that turkeys are not to be worshiped (but rather eaten as part of a celebratory meal regarding gratitude!). Again, the joyful use of turkeys as artwork is not bad, yet it has a potential to misdirect if not part of a more balanced approach. Materialism – The focus on “Black Friday” as the start of the holiday shopping season has the potential to focus family activities and discussions on topics inherently self-centered or gluttonous, which are antithetical to gratitude. Oversaturated Social Media Channels – This campaign is largely based on leveraging social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vine and so forth. These are generally ubiquitous and readily available to the target audiences, yet have the potential to be filled with other topics of interest like cat videos. Fortunately, photos of cute children holding signs have a strong potential to cut through this clutter, especially when creatively executed and posted through the naturally-occurring individual social media accounts (as opposed to relying exclusively on the school’s social media accounts).
TEAM INVOLVEMENT REQUIRED
Faculty – Front line teacher support would be required not only on practical aspects such at discussion time and sign creation, but also to interpret for students the importance of thankfulness and the reason for the school putting an emphasis on the topic.
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Support Squad – This group could potentially provide photography, coordinate social media uploading and otherwise provide additional lifting assistance to teachers and staff. Fund Raising Committee – Recognizing that this project is essentially a “friendraising” activity that can be a precursor to other fund raising efforts, this group may be able to identify and implement other ways to extend the campaign to alumni, the Advisory Board and donors. Publicity & Marketing Committee – This group would be responsible for producing the base materials (such as posters and instructions), core communication elements (such as a blog post or newsletter article), and any external or media communications. Administration – Leadership buy in would be essential to setting the tone and excitement for the campaign and the expectations for staff, as well as directing internal and parental communications efforts. Parents – The final, key element in the campaign would be successfully motivating parents to follow through on opportunities to implement elements of the campaign at home and through their personal social media accounts.
CREATIVE CONSIDERATIONS Tone Fun Joyful Playful Creative Kidsy
Visuals
Emotion
Photos (or short video for Instagram or Vine) of children holding or otherwise displaying signs with words or phrases. Signs may be artistically embellished yet should have large clear lettering to allow visibility from camera distance. Different settings, angles and approaches could be applied.
Smiling Happiness Gratitude Thankfulness
Sponsorship integration – One side benefit of this campaign is awareness of Midland Christian School. For this reason, it is recommended that signs include #thankful and the Midland Christian School logo. A standard 8.5x11 sign template will be developed and distributed as a PDF that has these elements on the front as well as general instructions on the back. Other, creative approaches are possible, but these two elements will help tie the campaign back to Midland Christian School.
TACTICAL ELEMENTS & IMPLEMENTATION
1. Obtain buy in and approval of this concept by necessary groups. 2. Outline talking points and schedule introduction of campaign to faculty, Support Squad and other stakeholders. 3. Develop and print the standard Hashtag Thankful poster as a 8.5x11” PDF with instructions on the back 4. Write and publish “Tips for Being Thankful at Thanksgiving” by principal in newsletter and website. Redistribute through RenWeb. 5. Post an introduction to the campaign on Facebook, with a link to the Tips article. Use artwork with #thankful in kidprint font to illustrate initial post. 3
6. Coordinate poster creation, photography and social media posting of children with signs. 7. Send posters home with students Monday of Thanksgiving week with hard copy of “Tips for Being Thankful” article. 8. Monitor social media activity and report results. Expansion concepts in future years Depending on the success of this campaign, these ideas may be worth considering if the effort is repeated in subsequent years: Send letters to local pastors inviting participation and offering link to PDF of poster. Seek media coverage in the form of a feature story from local media.
SUPPORT RESOURCES
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. A theology of thankfulness written in a poetic prose style. A New York Times bestseller. Three Good Things: www.midmichigan.org/3goodthings An employee campaign based on research by Bryan Sexton, Ph.D. that parallels the traditional disciple of “the three blessings.” This technique calls for journaling three good events of the day at bedtime. The Legend of Squanto: An Unknown Hero Who Changed the Course of American History (Radio Theatre) Audio CD. A 1.8 hour drama by Paul McCusker and produced by Focus on the Family. Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas. This entertaining and historical story shows that the actual hero of Thanksgiving was neither white nor Indian but God.
SUCCESS METRICS 1. Counts for Facebook post, photo and album LIKES on Midland Christian School’s official page at www.facebook.com/midchrschool, plus the number of comments and shares, compared to average post metrics. 2. Amount of posts on individual Facebook pages used the @midchrschool link (may be difficult to measure) 3. Web traffic to related newsletter or blog post as measured by Google Analytics (if installed). 4. Subjective comments and feedback regarding the campaign from parents, faculty and stakeholders. 5. Local, national or industry media coverage if any, as well as requests for information from other schools or associations.
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BUDGET
Costs for this campaign are nominal, such as photocopying and several very large, thick markers. Other elements use existing newsletter or online channels. Staff and volunteer time are required.
TIMETABLE
This project is designed for implementation in October and early November to coincide with Thanksgiving which is the fourth Thursday in November (Nov. 26, 2015). Ideally, social media posting by the School should be completed by Tuesday (Nov. 24, 2015) when school goes into recess, with parents encouraged to continue social media posting through the remainder of the Thanksgiving vacation.
Submitted by Warren A. Johnson, APR Updated 10/5/2015 7:28:00 PM
[email protected] www.unsolicitedmarketingadvice.com @johnsonwarren
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#thankful
Join the Hashtag #Thankful Project
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elcome to Midland Christian School’s Hashtag #Thankful Project! Join in by deciding what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving. Then post a photo of yourself and your #thankful sign to you favorite social media site such as Facebook , Instagram, Twitter, Vine or others. Be sure to add the hash symbol and the word thankful so people can find your post. Everyone can participate as individuals or in groups as often as they like — students, parents , teachers, siblings, grandparents, relatives, pastors and others.
Help Midland Christian School put #thankful back in Thanksgiving this year!
Tips and Tricks 1.
Think about what you’re thankful for. Talk about it with others. Make a list. Don’t forget the ways God has blessed you. It feels good to be thankful.
2.
Use a large, thick dark marker to write what you’re thankful for on the front of this page. It needs to be readable from a distance, so make it short and BIG. If you want to decorate it or make a bigger sign for a group, that’s good too.
3.
Take a photo (or video) with your poster and post it to your favorite social media sites. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vine, whatever. Children: have your parents help you with this. Make sure to end your post with #thankful.
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Bonus Tip: If you’re posting to Facebook, start typing “@Midland Christian School” (without the quotes) at the end of your post and you will be able to pick the school’s name from a drop down list that appears. This creates a link to Midland Christian School so our other friends know about your post. You need to have liked our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/midchrschool for trick this to work.
5.
Bring your Hashtag #Thankful poster to Thanksgiving Dinner. As the potatoes get passed around, ask everyone to say what they’re #thankful for this year! Repeat when the potatoes go around the second time!
6.
Get more copies of this poster as a PDF on our website at midlandchristianschool-mi.org or at bit.ly/thx2015 .
7.
For more tips on being thankful at Thanksgiving, read our post “Tips for Being Thankful at Thanksgiving” at midlandchristianschool-mi.org .
http://midlandchristianschool-mi.org/
7 Tips for Being Thankful at Thanksgiving NOVEMBER 8, 2015
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s the calendar turns another page, it’s hard to believe how quickly this school year is flying by, and that the Thanksgiving holiday is just around the corner. While the media will promote turkey, football, and Black Friday shopping, my hope is that our students, and their families, will take time to think about why we are all blessed by God, and celebrate that we have the true reason, Jesus, to be thankful. Below you will find some ideas on how to express thankfulness in these weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, and all year long: 1. Join our Hashtag #Thankful project! • • •
Download a blank sign with instructions from our website to join in on the fun:www.bit.ly/thx2015. Our students will have opportunities during school to participate, and also help share the fun with family and friends. Don’t forget to post your photos on social media and include “@Midland Christian School” and #Thankful to showcase to all your friends how thankful the Midland Christian School community is!
2. Begin ̶ or spice up ̶ saying grace at meals. • • • •
Just as Jesus gave thanks when he broke the bread during Passover, saying grace before each meal is a great way of thanking God for his provision to us. Be consistent; it takes repetition to make a habit. If saying grace is new to your family, consider the many simple graces that are available online (for example, dailyprayer.us/before_meals_prayer.php). If you already say grace as a family, find new ways to spice this up so it is a fresh expression of thankfulness (such as each family member to say grace once per week)
3. Plan to talk about things that you are thankful for at your Thanksgiving Dinner. •
• • •
It’s important to prepare in advance; tell your children and family members a few days before the Thanksgiving holiday meal that you would like each person to share something they are thankful for. Pick a time to do this at the Thanksgiving meal. For example: when the potatoes are being passed around the table, or immediately after saying grace. Consider writing what you are thankful for down as a family, and then next year review the list to remember how God continues to bless us. Share your thankfulness using the #Thankful sign!
4. Share thankfulness with others by writing thank you notes. • • • •
Thank you notes are an easy way to express your thankfulness to others. If you visit family, consider writing one in advance to present to them at the Thanksgiving meal. If you need help to develop an easy three-sentence format, consider listening to this podcast: www.manager-tools.com/2007/03/how-write-thank-you-note Encourage your children to write thank you notes for their Christmas gifts, and make it a goal to mail them by New Year’s Day.
5. Bedtimes are the perfect time to be thankful. • • •
At bedtime, between now and Christmas, encourage your child to name three good things that happened during that day. Consider writing these down in a journal to record your daily blessings. Each month, take time to review the journal, remembering God’s blessing in our lives and trusting that he will continue to bless us.
6. At a store or in a restaurant, use the waiter, waitress, or clerk’s names when you say “Thank you.” • • •
This simple act can express your personal thankfulness and show your respect. Make it a habit to look at their name tag to learn their name. Remember that how we treat others is a reflection on our Christian character, and an important part of our expression of God’s love to others.
7. Get involved in a service project to help others. • •
A service or volunteer project is a great way to help children develop a proper attitude toward serving others, as well as spending quality time as a family. This season is filled with opportunities to help others in simple ways: raking leaves, baking treats for neighbors, offering to babysit for free, collecting canned goods for a food bank, signing up to ring Salvation Army bells, volunteering at a soup kitchen, and so forth.
Letter to pastors at local churches
November 4, 2015 Title/Full Name Church Name Street Address City, ST zip Dear Tile LN, This month, Midland Christian School is working to put “thankful” back in Thanksgiving with our Hashtag #Thankful project. Would you join us in prayer for the success of this effort? It’s a simple idea that we believe has the potential to make a positive impact on our students, their families and the community: We are asking them to write one thing that they are thankful for on a sign, take a picture of themselves with the sign, and post it to their favorite social media account, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the tag “#thankful.” The hashtag phrase helps others find such posts and join in the fun. Our culture has largely refocused Thanksgiving to be a celebration of “family” instead of its namesake. Activities tend to focus on food preparation and sporting events, driving out the original and true purpose for this special holy day. While family, food and football are not in and of themselves bad, they have the potential to choke out the young seed of thankfulness that the holiday was originally intended to nurture, especially among young children. We hope to reinforce this effort by providing parents with some tips about how to encourage gratitude during the Thanksgiving holiday through our parent newsletter and our website at www.midlandchristianschool-mi.org. These suggestions include being intentional about saying grace at meals, planning for a discussion at Thanksgiving dinner, writing thank you notes, volunteering, naming three blessings at bedtime, and so forth. Please join us in praying for the success of this project, especially as teachers and parents seek to help children, many of whom you know, to develop the unnatural, yet Christ-like, virtue of gratitude.
In Omnibus Christus,
Carianne Robbins Principal P. S. – We hope you will check out what God is doing with this project during the month on our Facebook page at facebook.com/midchrschool. Enclosure: Hashtag Thankful Sign
Colossians 3:12-15 (ESV)
Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
#Thankful
Colossians 4:2 (ESV)
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
#Thankful
#Thankful
Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Philippians 4:6 (ESV)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
#Thankful
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
#Thankful
#Thankful
1 Timothy 2:1 (ESV)
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people
Psalm 106:1 (ESV)
Psalm 100:4 (ESV)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
#Thankful
#Thankful
Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
#Thankful
Facebook and Marquee Sign Ideas for Hashtag #Thankful Project
Page posts to https://www.facebook.com/midchrschool in addition to regular photo album posts as received. Tu. 11/3/2015 We just bought some really big, thick pens to use in our upcoming Hashtag #Thankful project at Midland Christian School. Watch for more details in the coming days. We’re going to be #Thankful together between now and Thanksgiving! W 11/4/2015 Today, Midland Christian School is launching its “Hashtag #Thankful Project” to help students, parents, teachers, families and friends to focus on gratitude as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. This project is a great way for you and your family to put thankfulness back into Thanksgiving. Plus, it’s simple and easy to participate! Just download the Hashtag #Thankful sign and instructions from our website. Then, take a photo to illustrate what you’re thankful for and post it online. Be sure to end your post with “#Thankful.” We’ll be posting photos to our page throughout November as well. http://www.bit.ly/thx2015 Fr 11/6/2015 Principal Carianne Robbins has posted “7 Tips for being Thankful at Thanksgiving.” These are great ideas that your family can use to teach gratitude and make memories. Tip #1 is to join our Hashtag #Thankful project (learn more at www.bit.ly/thx2015), but we especially like the tip involving potatoes. LINK= Tu 11/10/2015 TBD Th 11/12/2015 TBD Sa 11/14/2015 Appreciate the people in your life. Give them a Hashtag #Thankful shout-out this weekend using Midland Christian School’s downloadable sign and instructions. LINK=bit.ly/thx2015 Su 11/15/15 - VIDEO Scripture is filled with verses encouraging us to be thankful. So are the halls at Midland Christian School, as part of our Hashtag #Thankfulproject. Join in by downloading a blank sign. F 11/17/2015 Julie Andrews sang “These are a few of my favorite things” in the movie, “The Sound of Music.” What are a few of your favorite things that you are #Thankful for this year? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33o32C0ogVM
Th 11/19/2015 Question #42: Thanksgiving is only one week away. Are you prepared to be thankful? We prepare for Thanksgiving by buying the turkey and cranberry sauce. We prepare the guest bedroom. We even make sure the TV remote has fresh batteries. Yet have we prepared for our families to be fully, deeply and truly thankful? There’s still time to add more Hashtag #Thankful posts to your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram news feeds as one way to prepare your family to be thankful. Use our downloadable sign with simple instructions at www.bit.ly/thx2015 (59 other people have already used this link!). There are more tips at our website at midlandchristianschool-mi.org, or build your own plan for thankfulness starting today from the many other resources now appearing online, in the media and at our churches. What are you #Thankful for this Thursday?
Sa 11/21/2015 [Consider an update on campaign statistics, #posts, # of civic leaders participating, word of mouth comments, etc]
Thankfulness is starting to trend all over the country. Have you joined the movement yet? Visit Midland Christian School's Website for tips, including the Hashtag #Thankful blank poster download to use to share your thankfulness with others. PIX: Trending map
11/20/2015 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 If we aren’t grateful for what we already have, what makes us think we’d be happy with more? #Thankful [bitly URL] M 11/23/2015 Tip #5 for becoming more thankful is to write down at least three things that you’re thankful for each day in a “Gratitude Journal.” It’s that simple. Name three blessings and write them down, preferably before bedtime (Ps 63:6). If you can add your role in the particular good thing that you’re recording,
that is even better although certainly not required. The benefits of this simple discipline are well documented in both Christian and secular circles. Plus, the impact on children, and the ease with which it ties into their nighttime prayers is outstanding. Consider starting a gratitude journal as a new family habit beginning this week. Set a goal of keeping it up through Christmas and you may find the tone for the holiday changes too. Of course, with Pinterest you can make anything simple excessively more elaborate, so here’s a link for those drawn to embellishing! https://www.pinterest.com/explore/gratitude-journals/ Tu 11/24/15 Why do we say grace at meals? Three reasons come immediately to mind: Because God commands us to be thankful (1 Thess 5:18 ), because when we eat we recognize he has answered our prayers for “daily bread” (Matt 6:5-13), and because Jesus gave us an example of thankfulness when he broke bread (Matt 26:26, Luke 22:19). Beginning to say grace at meals – or spicing up your mealtime prayers – is tip #2 in becoming more thankful starting this Thanksgiving season. There are many great resources available for mealtime prayers. You may want to select a variety, or find ones that are a good match for your children’s ages. A nice place to start is with the selection available on the Daily Prayers website. http://dailyprayer.us/before_meals_prayer.php Th 11/26/15 Need to keep the kids busy and the family out of the kitchen? Assign them to make up #Thankful signs to be shared at dinnertime today. Th 11/26/15 Some basic facts about Thanksgiving that you might not have known: http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving/videos/bet-you-didnt-knowthanksgiving Th 11/26/2015 Remember to share what you are #Thankful for this year as you pass the potatoes around the Thanksgiving table! Fri 11/27/2015 Shopping can get crazy, especially on Black Friday. The simple act of using the clerk’s name when saying “Thank You” can be a powerful way of showing respect. Remember, how we treat others is a reflection of our Christian character, and an important part of our expression of God’s love to others. This is tip #6 for being more #Thankful at Thanksgiving. See the full list at midlandchristianschool-mi.org
SUNDAY 11/29/2015 at sunset We’re #Thankful for all the students, parents, family and friends of Midland Christian School that participated in our Hashtag #Thankful project this year! What a great outpouring of gratitude to the glory of God. Thank you to all who participated. May thankfulness continue to fill your life in ever increasing amounts.
School Reader board posts for Hashtag #Thankful project 11/4/2015 – 11/6/2015 Join Our Hashtag #Thankful Project (bitly URL) [Autumn Bazaar posted 11/9 – 15] 11/16/15: Join Our Hashtag #Thankful Project (bitly URL) Refresh 11/ 20 Be #Thankful (bitly URL) [Next Message posted 11/30/2015]
Tip #4 to being more #Thankful during this Thanksgiving season is to write thank you notes (See the Midland Christian School website for the other 6 tips!). Here’s an easy, 5-step way that anyone can write a thank you note in less than five minutes: 1. Greet the Giver Just like in a letter: “Dear Aunt Ruth,” 2. Write one sentence that says “thank you” and mentions the item specifically. If there were up to three items, you can list them separately in a series, or you could create a general term and add an adjective. For example, “Thank you for the hat, mittens and scarf” or “Thank you for the three beautiful sweaters.” 3. Write one or two sentences about the gift’s use or its impact on you. For example, “These will keep me warm during Michigan’s cold winter. It is especially special that you knitted these yourself.” 4. Close with one sentence offering best wishes or referring to the past/future. For example, “It was great to see you over the holidays and we look forward to stopping by again this summer when we pass through the Carolinas.” 5. Close and sign your name. For family members, be generous with closings like “Love,” yet “Sincerely,” “Yours Truly,” “Regards,” or “Fondly” are all appropriate. Remember, it’s never too late to write a thank you note, but sooner is better. This format is simple enough that children can easily learn it with just a bit of help from you. Of course, the best way to get better at writing thank you notes is to practice by writing a note every time someone gives you a gift or does you a favor. Keep a supply of simple note cards and stamps available to make this happen. You may even want to make a goal of sending at least one thank you note each week to build up your thankfulness stamina. You can use your Gratitude Journal as a starting point if you have one. Yet whatever method you use to prompt yourself, you’ll likely be surprised as you come to recognize the large number of people that are blessings in your life.
Hashtag #Thankful Ideas for the Taking
Who would like to volunteer to take one of these fun ideas to expand on the Hashtag #Thankful project and run with it? Take some roll-end paper and make a large sign saying #thankful. Have entire school body (or some group) hold for group photo in front of school entrance/at assembly with crusader artwork visible/somewhere else). Take a photograph of yourself and your pastor in front of your church’s sign, altar, or other location with Hashtag Thankful signs showing things that each of you are thankful for. Email your family and friends with a link to the Hashtag #thankful sign on Midland Christian Schools and ask them if they would participate by posting a picture of themselves with a sign about what they’re thankful for on their social media accounts. Take a short video of the letters “#-T-h-a-n-k-f-u-l “ being held up in sequence by nine people. Be creative about location and filming. Post on your social media account and/or provide to Midland Christian School for posting on their Facebook page. Contact Midland Mayor Maureen Donker and ask her to have someone take a photo of herself holding a Hashtag Thankful sign labeled “Midland” to share for posting on the Midland Christian School Facebook page to show how our civic leaders are thankful (as well posting the city of Midland and her personal pages, if desired). The background of the photo could be of their choosing to help children and parents better understand the office holder or Michigan association. Share the Hashtag Thankful instructions PDF as an explanation. Contact the chief of staff for Rep. John Moolenaar and ask him if the congressman would be willing someone take a photo of herself holding a Hashtag Thankful sign labeled “Michigan” (or something else appropriate) to share for posting on the Midland Christian School Facebook page to show how our civic leaders are thankful (as well posting any other social media pages if desired). The background of the photo could be of their choosing to help children and parents better understand the office holder or Michigan association. Share the Hashtag Thankful instructions PDF as an explanation. Contact the office of State Senator Jim Stamas (36th State Senate District) and ask him if the senator would be willing someone take a photo of herself holding a Hashtag Thankful sign labeled “Michigan” (or something else appropriate) to share for posting on the Midland Christian School Facebook page to show how our civic leaders are thankful (as well posting any other social media pages if desired). The background of the photo could be of their choosing to help children and parents better understand the office holder or Michigan association. Share the Hashtag Thankful instructions PDF as an explanation.
Contact the office of Michigan Representative Gary Glenn (98th District) and ask if the representative would be willing someone take a photo of herself holding a Hashtag Thankful sign labeled “Michigan” (or something else appropriate) to share for posting on the Midland Christian School Facebook page to show how our civic leaders are thankful (as well posting any other social media pages if desired). The background of the photo could be of their choosing to help children and parents better understand the office holder or Michigan association. Share the Hashtag Thankful instructions PDF as an explanation. Take a video of the youngest member of your family saying grace at Thanksgiving dinner and post later in the day with the hashtag #thankful. (Bonus points: Hold up a sign at the end with” #Thankful”). Take a photo of a relative in uniform and a Hashtag Thankful sign saying “Freedom.” Take a photo of someone raising a flag while someone holds a Hashtag Thankful sign labeled “Freedom.” Take a picture of yourself or your family with your Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes with a Hashtag Thankful sign of your choosing. Take a picture of a turkey, raw potatoes, cranberries or pumpkins (or each of them!) with a Hashtag Thankful sign of your choosing. Take a group picture of your family with a Hashtag Thankful sign labelled with your family name. For example, “The Smiths.” Take a photo of yourself jumping in mid-air holding a Hashtag Thankful sign “Gravity.” Take a photo of your children with grandparents holding Hashtag Thankful signs such as “Grandma” or “Grandpa.” Take a photo of yourself with one of the people who serve Midland Christian School and a Hashtag Thankful sign. For example, the custodian (Clean School), Orkin man (Bug Free!), Cintas Rug Delivery person (Clean Floors). Take a video of a child holding up various Hashtag #Thankful signs in sequence while other children in the family “score” the responses with numbers like in the Olympics. Make the final sign be “Brothers & Sisters” and have it scored a “10” by everyone.
Take a photo of yourself and your best friend with a Hashtag Thankful sign “BFF.” Find something we take for granted and pose with an appropriate Hashtag Thankful sign. For example, you and your neighborhood garbageman or at the sewage treatment plant. Take a photo of your pet with a Hashtag Thankful sign explaining what he’s thankful for.
Create a list of drudgery items and corresponding things to be thankful for. Take photos or video juxtapositioning these items.
Record a video of your youngest child or sibling listing the 3 things that they are thankful for. Tag or end the video with #Thankful. Use your graphic art skills to create word art like this. For example, sayings could be “Time to be #Thankful,” “Be #Thankful Today” or “Jesus was #Thankful.” Send to Beth De Vries at Midland Christian School (
[email protected]) for possible sharing on Midland Christian School’s Facebook page. [For example: verses about Jesus being thankful: Luke 22:19, Matt. 26:26, 1 Cor 11:27, Matthew 15:36, Matthew 11:25, John 11:40-42, Hebrews 12:2] Take photos of things around the School that volunteers have installed or repaired. For example “Wood Chips,” “New Sink,” “New H 2 0 Fountain” or “Fresh Paint.”
Hashtag #Thankful Project Campaign Evaluation December 2, 2015
Activity Measures Post count
80
Post Likes, Comments & Shares
1,105
Engagement Rate
400% increase
Reach
180% increase
Participation Rate
Mixed
Web Activity
Increases are from prior month averages
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Evaluation Categories • Activity Measures Visits, clicks, averages, rates
• Conversions Measurable final step toward sale or other organization goals
• Strategic Improvements Movement toward organization’s strategic or revenue goals
Participation Distribution Grades
Groups Extracurricular
Preschool K 1-2
3-4 5-6 7-8 9-12
For Hashtag #Thankful campaign. Some activity may have occurred off-page and thus not be identified here.
Sports Teams Student Council
Boards & Committees
External Faculty
Community leaders
Radio stations
Extended networks
Conversions Page Likes New Student Acquisition Donations New Donor Acquisition
+10 (net 9) ̶ ̶ ̶
Strategic Improvements Building brand or Building business Attitude/Perception Changes Relationship Development (Parents, Pastors, Community Leaders, Potential Donors)
Brand TBD
