"Without counsel plans fail, but with advisords they succeed."
--Proverbs 15:22
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An informational DIGEST to guide development personnel in the emerging field of development._______________________________________________________________________________NEW PARENT (OR NEW PARISHIONER) ORIENTATION
Volume XV, Edition 3
Expectations. Covenants. Contracts. Partnerships. Understanding.
These underlying principles are the bedrock of any relationship with donors, parents, parishioners, friends and publics. Laying out a clear set of objectives and expectations will provide the fundamental building blocks of understanding and relationships. This edition of the +Quarterly+ will reference “parents” for topical purposes, however, these same steps and strategies can be applied to parishioners at a parish as well. So, if you are affiliated with a parish, just substitute the word “parishioner” when you see “parent” and remember to “orient” new members to your Catholic institution.
PRIMARY GOAL: Building a Christian Community
Most research that documents the success of a Catholic schools, cite the fact that they are schools of community. In short, a faith principled group of people (clergy, religious, parishioners, teachers, school boards, donors, parents, alumni, diocese, etc.) are joined together and work together to teach their young people to know and love Jesus Christ. The community works together to provide quality Catholic education. Many public school educators are every bit as professional as our Catholic school educators. What is the difference? The dedication to a faith community and the return and support of that dedication by the faith community.
To that end, parents must be provided formation to develop them as members of that faith community. This cannot happen on it’s own. It must be an integral part of the institution and a program priority.
“Community” is becoming harder and harder to come by. It becomes harder and harder to practice as well. A mobile society, fast paced lifestyles, rejection of tradition, ritual and institutional values, technology, consumerism and the rush to urban life, collectively, challenge the sense of community. Fewer and fewer places resemble true communities anymore. Two places where community can be found are:
- Small Town/Rural America.
- Communities of Religious Faith in Urban America.
Understanding and accepting these principles is the key to building community. Implementing the recommendations to follow will ensure a faith community at your Catholic school. Taking young parents and older parents, for that matter, through an orientation emphasizing faith, mission, community, service and sharing will not only guarantee a stronger sense of community but work toward evangelizing both parents and children at your Catholic school.
PARENTS
Understand the purpose of Catholic education: to bring Christ to people and people to Christ. Catholic schools are just not for the students that attend them. They are for a broader community which includes parents. The Church is a service institution. Through it’s many ministries (Catholic schools, hospitals, social agencies, services to the poor, etc.), the Church provides necessary services that people want and need. As they become part of those ministries, it becomes an opportunity to allow them to hear the Gospel message and become evangelized.
Catholic schools are not just a force for quality education, but a force for good and a means of acquainting children with Gospel values and giving parents an opportunity to live out those values and become evangelized.
Research indicates that parents are attracted to Catholic schools in four ways in order of importance:
- Academics.
- Discipline.
- Morality.
- Security.
Post Catholic school experience, parents cite the benefits in a different order with “morality” ranked second instead of third. The case can easily be made that many of these parents are formed and spiritually impacted by the Catholic school experience.
CONSUMER MENTALITY VS. COMMUNITY MENTALITY
The economic forces within a consumer society coupled with the need for more and more tuition dollars can create an understanding “divide” between the school and parents. Many first time Catholic school parents enter the school community with a set of inaccurate assumptions based on their cultural experience.
Remember, religion and institutions such as Catholic schools are now counter cultural
forces in our society. Individualism, consumerism, materialism and celebrity are the dominant forces in the modern culture. Parents can be educated that they are part of something special—a school community faith. Paying tuition can bring with it an attitude or assumption that they are “buying” something and certain demands and “transactions” are implicit in the relationship of parents with the school. Ongoing orientation of parents can foster a greater understanding and long term relationship beyond graduation.
Teaching parents that they are part of something greater than just their child’s educational needs by laying out the mission and philosophy of the school as well as expectations is a way to “develop” people.
Catholic schools are a means of evangelization of the parents. In generational terms, we are speaking of acquainting the children with the Catholic faith and evangelizing the parents. Remember, church ministries are a means of evangelization. Mother Teresa’s ministry was to the sick and dying. But it provided the “opportunity” for people to learn about Christ.
The same is true for Catholic schools. Parents want a quality, value based education. That education becomes the “opportunity” for people to learn about the Gospel. But the means or “entry point” is their desire for quality education.
In essence, parents must receive some type of formation program and orient them towards the goals of the school community. Many ways and means of formation and education can be employed in this endeavor: retreats, social, special meetings, newsletters\, board meetings and training videos. Orientation is different than “welcoming” or an information meeting.
Orientation parents has a clear set of objectives:
EXPECTATIONS—state clearly what they can expect of you and what the institution expects of them.
MAIN MESSAGES OF ORIENTATION
The following themes should be driven home continually to parents through different means of communications. However, as bold as it may seem, all parents (particularly new parents) should be required to attend a mandatory meeting at the beginning of the school year. This is a different meeting than registration or welcoming. This gathering can be viewed as the “business meeting” of the school—similar to a company’s annual shareholder meeting. The following messages or themes of communication should be shared with the parents.
These messages are the key to the Parent Orientation program. They will help to lay out important expectations. It will also teach, condition and prepare them.
STATE OF THE SCHOOL—the parents should be provided a deeper understanding of the school with a brief history and philosophy of education. Include the goals or new programs for the upcoming year. Provide a few statistics, student population, faculty background and average years of service, accreditation and governance structure. Season this section of Parent Orientation with future plans, goals and dreams for your school.
FAITH, SACRAMENTS, COMMUNITY—Inform the parents that they are part of a faith, Gospel based institution. They are the primary Catholic educators and that Catholic schools are successful because they are Schools of Community. At the center of that community is the Eucharist. They should share in this celebration each and every week with their children in their home parish. These experiences will reinforce and strengthen the message and values their children will learn each and every day in a Catholic school.
PROFESSIONALS IN THE SCHOOL—remind the parents that their children will be cared for and taught by professional Catholic educators. Having faith is having trust in the professionals of the school. Parents are part of the community but must defer to the expertise of faculty professionals. They are not being asked to abdicate but to be supportive. This is also true of coaches and moderators. They need to be supported as well; not necessarily carte blanche but being supportive is part of being part of a community.
Share any and all published sexual abuse policies with parents at this meeting as well.
POLICY VS. ADMINISTRATION—define what “policy” and “administration” are. Explain, with examples, what the differences are between policy and administration. Boards set policy. Administrations implement policy on a day to day basis. Parents are not responsible for day to day operations, nor are boards. Share the need for the balance of policy, administration and volunteerism in the school.
TUITION AND FINANCES—every student is on scholarship. Share the concept of “Tuition vs. Cost Per Student.” Provide a financial snapshot of the school: budget, size of endowment, funding structure of the school (parish, religious community, diocese, etc.). Discuss the shortcomings of any tuition based funding plan. Briefly share some principles of Christian Stewardship.
SCHOOL’S GIVING PROGRAM—probably the most important aspect of Parent Orientation. Lay out the expectation of giving. You’re creating a lifelong habit of giving in these early moments. Talk about “equal sacrifice” not “equal amounts.”
Talk about the programs, plans, dreams and objectives for your school. Do not share them as problems but rather as tremendous faith building opportunities. Discuss the opportunities: Annual Fund, Auction, Campaign Pledge, Scholarships, Endowment Program.
Extend an invitation to serve on the Annual Fund or Auction Committees. Suggest a giving amount/range for the Annual Fund.
Finally, salute them for their commitment to Catholic education and challenge them to be part of the school community of faith long after their son or daughter has graduated.