STORY - "Community Spirit Secret to Success"

There is more to Nelson Bay than sandy beaches, crystal waters and friendly dolphins. It now boasts an award winning parish school. St Michael’s Parish School Nelson Bay received the 2007 Monsignor Coolahan Award for School Community in February, recognising its excellence in curriculum and excellence in school life, particularly in building parish community. Asked what they love most about St Michael’s, the school student leaders spoke with one voice: “The activities and fun stuff we do with the church and the parish.”

The school’s name embodies its driving philosophy. “We say ‘Parish School’ all the time to bridge in people’s mind the understanding that we are the one community, not two separate entities,” explains parish priest Fr David O’Hearn. Principal Pip McCann agrees and acknowledges the one community psyche is reinforced by the proximity of the church, parish office and school. He identifies this as a key differentiator to other schools, promoting effective communication and visibility between church and school. “We have a parish priest who wants to be involved in all the activities. He’s very proactive and doesn’t mind being flogged by the kids in playing handball every morning,” Pip explains. Fr David agrees, “That’s been really good, building up a rapport with all the kids. It has also drawn parents into a more open and friendly relationship.” Similarly, school staff are actively involved at church through reading, Eucharistic ministry and singing in the youth choir.

Fr David says, “The practical things are what makes those links more real.” There are two infants and primary Masses each term where the kids are involved in the liturgy, Mass celebrating the beginning and end of the school year, Year 6 graduation, St Michael’s feast day, Holy Week, Christmas, Ash Wednesday and All Saints day, and every class experiences benediction on Wednesdays. “So they’re in church a fair bit and that’s great,” remarks Fr David.

Other initiatives promoting parish-school community include parishioners helping in the school’s intensive reading program, a new Friday Mass especially for parents, the scuba diving club, Father’s Day breakfast, school fete and The Big Cat Cup, the end of term touch football game where Fr David and teachers compete with Year 6.

Students enjoy parish activities like altar service, the youth club, youth band, reading at Mass, liturgical dancing and acting out the gospel with parish members at Easter and Christmas. “We get a lot of people who go to 6pm Christmas Mass especially for the acting out of the gospel,” says Pip. Confirmation and First Communion Retreat Days also bring parents, students, parishioners and teachers together in activities and Communion. The school also invites parishioners to special Masses held at school. “Any school liturgy is open for the whole parish to attend. It’s not just a school liturgy,” Pip says.

“The children are all of the one thinking; the parish and school are one,” according to Martina Haddad, WYD Co-ordinator. “It’s got a lot to do with the open relationship between Fr David and Mr McCann.” This great working relationship is critical in bringing people on board in building a successful parish-school community. “There is a unity of vision in the sense that the Parish Council works hard with the School Executive and P&F,” says Fr David. One example of this collaborative work is the Major Events Committee, comprising parents, teachers and parishioners.

The Committee organises four key social events each year and its successful modus operandi is that the parish and school support each other and share the proceeds. “They are no longer seen as two separate groups looking for money for two different purposes,” Fr David explains. The main events each year are the St Patrick’s Day dinner, the Parish Sacramental Picnic Day, St Michael’s Feast Day celebrations, and Christmas Party and Carols by Glo-light for the parish and the wider community.

The secret to St Michael’s success is simple; a philosophy of one community made real through organised planning, effective communication, collaboration, active involvement, and sharing the financial rewards. Or as Fr David sees it, “Working together is building one place, one dream and one future.”

Scott Moore

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