The job of good principals is to make things happen. Underpinning this has to be a strong belief in themselves, the ability to inspire, plan, have a vision, create, and a willingness to step out a little, into the unknown if necessary. It goes without saying that the Principal must be able to effectively take the school community, staff, students and parents along for the journey. Making things happen requires sound and ongoing communication - making things happen without ensuring everyone knows, is a missed opportunity. And when what is planned to happen, happens there is the feeling that the school is indeed moving forward and such action will enhance pride in the school - no not the school but rather their school. If little is seen to happen, faith in the school diminishes. A Principal should always be thinking about what could be done next. I was always aware of this being a question interested people, some of whom may be potential donors, could ask. It is good to be ready for such a question.

Making things happen is so often tied to opportunity. The Greek myths contain some interesting stories. I find most of them quite complicated but can be very descriptive. And so, it is with Kairos who frames the importance of grasping opportunity. Kairos has a strange hair style with a long lock of hair on the front of his head but with the back of his head completely devoid of hair. He has wings on his back and feet and travels quickly. To stop him you have to grab him by the hair as he comes towards you and if this is successful this is seen as a Kairos moment, which is another way of saying this is seizing an opportunity. If you don’t grab him then he will sail past, the opportunity to seize him will be lost, because he has no hair to grab on the back of his head. This story has remained with me and was originally told to me by a very successful businessman who certainly had an understanding of a Kairos moment - an opportunity.

The other story of opportunity, which I have mentioned before, is that of Frank the Forked Tailed Kite. In 2015 I spent much time looking out of the window of the third floor of Royal Darwin Hospital. From there I would see daily, after lunch, two forked tailed kites “case” the hospital car park looking for food. I got to know them well and discovered one was called Frank. From the window I could see the dump and around it flew heaps of Forked Tailed Kites. I said to Frank one day, “How come you hunt here and all those fork tails are over there.” He replied in his wise, birdlike way “Opportunity. I know food is always here as people daily drop it at lunch time. Those birds believe they will do best by hunting with the mob. Everyone is there so it must be best! I’m an independent thinking bird, do my own exploring and make my own decisions. It has worked well so far.”

I don’t think I have to explain these two stories, but they are both worth remembering if you are wanting to “make it happen.” There are times when you may have little money. Even so, it is still vital to be determined to make something new happen, even if it is small.

Of course it doesn’t have to always come down to you. You will be able to encourage staff to “make something happen” and they will have the satisfaction of success and perhaps all they need is a little support.

The school I was at before I came to the Northern Territory owed its existence to a group of people deciding to take opportunity. It was in the Country Town of Maryborough, Victoria, which lay between Ballarat and Bendigo. The town was an Industrial Country town of about 8000 people. It was also a central place which served the surrounding pastoral area. The town, like so many Victorian country towns, grew out of the gold rush. The town had a Catholic Secondary School, run by Brigidine sisters, but the school was shrinking and moving towards closing. The seeds of making something innovative happen were sown not by the Catholic priest but rather the Anglican. He put forward the idea of an ecumenical school run by not only the Catholics but also some other denominations.

The Catholics became positive about the prospect, the various authorities were consulted, parents canvassed, government support sought etc and after much hard work the concept of a Christian Community College was born, and Maryborough became Australia’s first such school. The partners were the Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Church of Christ and what was to become the Uniting Church. Some of the other Churches, such as the Salvation Army, maintained an interest without being a full partner. As part of the agreement the vice-principal would be a Brigidine sister, though the Principal would be anyone suitable. This school was born and was successful, because these Church leaders in Maryborough saw an opportunity, saw the good such a school could do, were dedicated to working through their differences, had authorities who had imagination and saw the benefit of it working.

50 years later the school is still serving the community. A number of schools based on this model have been set up serving communities where two separate schools would be too inefficient for a country community. The seeds sown in Maryborough were blown to The NT. In1989 two schools opened based on an Ecumenical model. The New Kormilda was an equal partnership between the Anglican and Uniting Church. St Philips College opened its doors as a Uniting Church, Anglican School though the Uniting Church was the key financial partner. The Bishop and the Local Anglican Priest were on the Council as were the Moderator of the Uniting Church and the local Minister. The Principal would report annually to both Churches.

This had all taken place recognising the value of combining in communities which may struggle to support two separate schools. It worked also because Church leaders were prepared to be flexible, open minded and really did want to make something happen. After several years the Anglicans did withdraw from St Philips but the school was by then moving forward rapidly. What was helpful was the Principal of St Philips and the Director of Kormilda had both worked at Maryborough Christian Community College -The Director of Kormilda being the Foundation Head of Maryborough which has now become Highview.

Of course, something is likely to happen if the Principal really believes it will happen. This belief is infectious and will encourage Boards, Staff and Students to also believe that things can really happen. How cool it is to be able to say “our school is a school where things really happen”. How exciting it is to be able to present a new idea and how wonderful it is to listen to a staff member or student talk about an idea they have. A belief in “we can make it happen” will create a dynamic school and enhance enormously school community satisfaction.

Written By Chris Tudor