Neighbor Throws Party for St. Monica Kids

For years, his business has been across the street from the playground and one local roofing contractor says he had a special reason for throwing a party for the kids.

Dennis Dunbar in a building that sits across the street and well within earshot of the often noisy playground for St. Monica School. He tells Patch the sounds of happy children laughing, shouting, playing and generally just being kids are like music to his ears.

An Oasis of Joyful Noise

Owning and running a business can be tough and demanding, especially in these economic times. Dunbar says he's loved being able to step outside his office doors and soak in the sounds that come from the school playground. "It's a nice sound in my head," Dunbar explained while cleaning up after the two hour party he and his company threw as a "thank you" to the kids who have been Dunbar's neighbors for all these years. "The sound from the kids playing is like music to me."

Dunbar says it's been a special blessing recently. He moved into an apartment in the building above his office after going through a divorce.

Marking the End of an Era

After Friday afternoon the noisy young neighbors will no longer play every day during school hours on the St. Monica playground. The parish school is closing its doors after 96 year of educating elementary and middle school children from Berwyn and neighboring communities. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia made the decision to close St. Monica School earlier this year as part of a plan to save money and increase efficiencies in Catholic education in the diocese.

"It's really sad," Dunbar observed about the closing.

Dunbar didn't want the school to close for good before he had a chance to return the blessings he had enjoyed for so many years, so Monday afternoon he and his roofers and office staff threw a big party for the kids.

The children loved it. Many of the parents and adults connected to the school were in tears as for two hours Monday afternoon St. Monica students enjoyed birch beer, cake, snacks, fun and games. From noon until 2 p.m. playground that was teaming with the laughing, playing sounds that have helped Dunbar threw some tough times.

'Thank You' is a Two-Way Street

As the Dunbar team started to pack up the party children would interrupt to say thanks and give hugs to guys and women who would normally be climbing on roofs and sweating under the scorching sun that beams down on roofs in summer.

"The parents have seemed more upset (about the closing) than the kids today." Dunbar told Patch. That's because of the perspective of time. For the students there is the excitement of new schools, new friends and new adverntures in the fall. Dunbar understands where the parents are coming from too. He grew up in a Delaware County neighborhood with a smaller Catholic parish church and school. The school was eventually closed years ago because of declining enrolment.

At least now the parents, teachers and especially the kids of St. Monica School can now add a big party from a grateful neighbor to the list of things they'll have to smile about as they look back and remember a historic and bittersweet week in St. Monica School and Parish history.