CB Centre school principals like to work in sync

By Mark Squibb

When Immaculate Conception School hosts its annual Christmas recital, parents bundle up and head out not to Immaculate Conception, but to Roncalli Central High.

The reason, says Immaculate Conception principal Laura Crawley, is simple – Roncalli boasts a large gym and stage, and so can better accommodate a large crowd of students and parents.

“So, at least once a year, Immaculate Conception School takes over Roncalli, and they willingly allow us to do that, which is fantastic,” said Crawley. “But, Roncalli doesn’t have bleachers, and so we bring over our bleachers, and after the gym is set up for our concert, the bleachers are there for their Christmas concert.”
The sharing of space and resources at Christmas time is one-way Roncalli and Immaculate Conception, as well as Holy Cross Elementary in Holyrood, work together for the betterment of all three schools.

“We always share equipment back and forth,” said Crawley. “Like, we don’t have a soundboard, so we borrow they’re soundboard, and they didn’t have mics, so they borrowed our mics. So, it’s always been a give-and-take, and back-and-forth. And with Holy Cross, it’s the same thing. With us not having a gym, they’ve been very, very kind, and have welcomed our students into their programs, like their basketball and softball programs, and things like that, and our students are always welcome. They always give us their flyers and let us know when things are happening. So, it has been a great collaboration.”

Roncalli Central High principal Joy Ricketts concurs, saying that herself, Crawley, and Tyrone Power of Holy Cross frequently share supplies.

“If Laura is running out of paper, she’ll call and say, ‘I’m out of 8 ½ by 11,’ and I’ll say ‘Okay, I’m on it, send someone up to get it,’ or Tyrone might call and say, ‘We’re having Christmas dinner, and I need 15 tables,’ and I’m like, ‘Okay, Tyrone, I have your 15 tables, they’re here ready to pick up,’” said Ricketts. “We work together as a community, and that’s what Roncalli is.”

Both Immaculate Conception and Holy Cross are feeder schools for Roncalli, and all three schools work in tandem to ensure a smooth transition for both students and families.

“It’s a big transition for them, going from being the oldest in the school to the youngest,” said Power. “And I think for a child starting kindergarten and going through to Grade 12 knowing that the three schools are working together and have their best interest at heart, I think it gives them a sense of security and a sense of belonging.”

Both elementary schools arrange to have students visit the high school to familiarize themselves with the building and meet with the teachers. Last year Roncalli hosted an open house for the parents as well.
“I can’t do my job effectively if I don’t have good communication and collaboration with my feeder schools, and I feel like since I have been here, we have been communicating and collaborating quite frequently,” said Ricketts. “We’re looking at building those bridges with our feeder schools even stronger over the next three years as we start to develop our new strategic plans over the coming months.”

Crawley said the three schools are hoping to implement a long-term plan rather than planning on a year-by-year basis.

“Collaboration is key,” said Power. “We are very close knit. The three schools form a triad that serves the community. And that’s what it means to be a community school.”