The Lesson of the Transfiguration - Continued

     In last Sunday's Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent this year (Mt 17:1-9), Jesus takes Peter, John and James up a mountain where he is transfigured.  Moses and Elijah were also standing there with Him.  Impetuously, Peter wants to build three booths, for this is where he wanted to stay.  Right after that, however, is where Jesus says that he must suffer and die, and told the three to not say anything about the vision until Jesus rose from the dead.

     Now how does that relate to your school?

     The disciples (learners, if you will), were given a vision.  Not only a vision in terms of what they saw, but they saw what could be!   Not only could they see what could be, it was a compelling vision.  Peter "got it" right away!  He wanted Jesus, Moses and Elijah to stay there - and he probably wanted to stay there too!  Therefore, are we giving our learners (both students and their parents), a compelling vision?  Are we telling them not only what we're about (our mission), but why we exist (our vision)?

     Here are some practical ways that schools have communicated that vision:

• Parents are given tours of the school when they are considering where to send their children for Kindergarten, but they are also shown the activities for their children when they reach 6th, 7th and 8th grade.  As Catholic schools that don't segment their primary, intermediate, and middle school grades, we can offer a vision of the experience their children will have as they continue to build the community of the school.
• A school prepares drawings of how the school looks currently, as well as prepares drawing of how the school will look with its new energy saving roof, remodeled classrooms, safety upgrades, landscaping and other improvements that will enhance the environment in which their children will learn.  These are the visible goals of its capital initiative, and fulfill a parent's desire to see what's in store for their children, and why it's important for them to be involved in the learning process.  Parents want to see pictures - ones in which they can picture themselves and their children.
• A school that's located in the hometown of MisterRogers hosts a "Good Neighbor" breakfast every year during Catholic Schools Week.  The students (ALL the students in the school) provide the entertainment for the morning as well as acting as food servers.  While community members see the positive impact the school has on its children fostering a peace-filled and caring community, parents of Kindergarten students witness the value of service which will be imbued in their children as well as the talents that will be nurtured at the school. 

     In these days of rising costs, it's not enough to say to parents that we have to raise tuition because of rising costs.  That made sense to the Great Generation (those folks that saved aluminum foil, string and pennies (for the copper) because it was patriotic to do so), and made some sense to some of the Baby Boomers (since that's the way they were raised).  It doesn't make sense to a GenXer. 

     You can't share a vision of the school if you, as the leader of the school, haven't developed one.  When a parent asks you, "Tell me about your school," will you be able to paint a compelling picture for them?

     DREAM...and dream big!

© Michael V. Ziemski, SchoolAdvancement, 2008  (Original publication date: 20080225)

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