The Heart of the Community: How Schools Can Connect and Thrive

Schools are essential for building our first networks during childhood, leading to lifelong friendships. They also serve as platforms for establishing new connections as we transition into adulthood and navigate parenthood. Additionally, schools are where we equip young people with the skills necessary to become active, engaged contributors to society.

Many school leaders in Australia face challenges in keeping their school communities united. Schools, however, are uniquely positioned to rebuild and strengthen the community, where a shared commitment to each child’s wellbeing, development, and education can guide us toward collective action.

So, how can schools undertake this crucial work of reconnecting and reinforcing the bonds that hold us together?

Peter Block’s book Community offers guidance on creating a grassroots, community-driven approach to addressing key concerns. He explores a way of thinking about our places that creates an opening for authentic communities and details what we can do to make that happen. Peter Block

The Building Connections: Schools as Community Hubs project at the University of Melbourne aims to improve school infrastructure design and sharing to enhance education and strengthen communities. Building Connections

Research shows that active participation leads to better performance and wellbeing among children. ARACY has developed a guide to assist school leaders and educators to better engage with the parents and families in their school communities The Parent Engagement Implementation Guide

Schools are uniquely positioned to strengthen a community

The strategy at Our Place involves collaboration among various service providers to improve educational outcomes by reducing or eliminating barriers to accessing essential services and opportunities that enhance family capacity and build social capital. Schools as Community Platforms  – Our Place Pre-Establishment Guide

Across the water, New York Times columnist David Brooks founded Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute to address the crisis of broken social trust that has divided Americans. The project aims to turn Americans into a nation of weavers, spreading connection and belonging. The Social Fabric Project

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