Community

     As we prepare for the coming school year ("Wait a minute...we still have half a year to go!!"  If you just said this to yourself when you read the first 8 words of this "Marketing Matter," click here.), as well as all the last minute preparations for Catholic Schools Week next week, we need to remember that it's not "Catholic School Week."  We celebrate with each other, just as we do at Mass on Sunday.  Indeed, we come together with the parish community, but we are also in communion with the all those around the world who are also celebrating - not to mention those that have gone before us marked with the sign of faith as part of the mystical Body of Christ.

     While it's true that we're not a "School System," we are certainly a "System of Schools."  Some schools have developed relationships with "Sister Schools" in other parts of the world, while schools in certain regions share resources with each other.  This demonstrates not only cooperation, but good stewardship as well.

     So why can we share with some, and not with others?

     Our marketing efforts serve to educate the public relative to our school's uniqueness and its strengths.  Each school has its own special character which needs to be celebrated.  But just as the early Christian community supported one another because of their unity with Christ, we need to remember that we need to support one another.  A "win" for us is a "win" for all of us; a "loss" for us is a "loss" for all of us.  Our command is to build up the Body of Christ - not survive by scavenging, but to invite, welcome, involve and engage more people in our mission.

     If one school fails, we all fail.  If one school succeeds, it needs to share those successes (and how they were achieved) with other schools so they too can succeed.

© Michael V. Ziemski, SchoolAdvancement, 2008 (Original Publication Date: 20080121)

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