The community surrounding Heron Bay Primary School would be negatively affected if the school were to close as proposed in the Bermuda Government’s school reorganisation plan.

This is the view of principal Lisa Swan, who said the school enjoys about 20 community partnerships and has a raft of educational programmes for its 90 students.

Ms Swan has been at Heron Bay for one year and has begun implementing additional programmes for the children.

Heron Bay, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, is one of four schools that were identified as potential candidates for closure — the others are St David’s Primary School, Gilbert Institute and Prospect Primary School. Ms Swan told The Royal Gazette: “Members of our community use the school for so many programmes and events — we have Neighbourhood Watch, we have the after-school and morning programmes. It is not just the school itself, it is the community at large it affects.

“We have every programme that the other schools have. This year we had Entrepreneur Day, where community partners came into the classroom and shared their expertise and we went out to some businesses. Our P5-P6 boys went to Raynor’s Garage to learn how to change a tyre on their car, then we had Sousa’s Landscaping, who came and did a really good job talk about landscaping.

“We want to make sure that our children fit into the world, rather than wait until they get into high school.

“We are starting the Leader in Me Programme, which the parents are so excited about because it is their goal to make their children leaders. A principal in a US school tried the programme and turned it into an award-winning school.”

The principal said that, although the school faces possible closure, the parents and teachers she has encountered appear optimistic about its future.

“Last year we were in a similar situation and I think people got skittish and didn’t register,” she said. “We had a strong turnout for our open house this year, so we are optimistic. The ones who came seemed to be very happy with our school.

“This year we are pushing parents: if it is their school of choice, go ahead and register their children.

“When I see people in town or in the grocery story, they say ‘we are going to send our children to Heron Bay!’ or ‘we are sending our children to you!’ and it is really refreshing. We feel pretty optimistic that we will get a good enrolment. We will just have to wait and see.”

A PTA spokesman at the school said the children benefit from good educational programmes. “It is very personable because it is a small school and the children get undivided attention,” she said. “The teachers are very receptive.

“Ms Swan has been working really hard, implementing different programmes to help strengthen the children’s reading. The overall education is good. I would really hate to see it close. It is the 90th anniversary and Ms Swan has something planned at least once a month to celebrate.”

The PTA is holding an emergency meeting on Monday to come up with an action plan to save the school.