'EWA BEACH — Buildings from neighboring James Campbell High School tower over the two single-story buildings that make up the Our Lady of Perpetual Help School campus.

But lack of size hasn't stopped 'Ewa Beach's oldest private school with the motto "educating for life" from carving a niche in the community as a family-oriented institution as serious about its academic achievement as it is about bringing up active Catholics.

"We have a very safe and protective environment and we have that very close family connection," said Sister Davilyn Ah Chick, the school's principal.

The school began its 40th year last month and will commemorate the landmark occasion with a celebratory Mass and banquet at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort at Ko Olina on Sept. 21.

A majority of the student body come from 'Ewa and West O'ahu, although some come from as far away as Wai'anae, Wahiawa and 'Aiea, Ah Chick said.

Fifth-grader Joshua Ibarra, 10, of 'Ewa Beach, also cited the strong sense of family at the school. When someone gets hurt on the playground, schoolmates, regardless of their age, will come to their aid, he said.

"The students here are very nice to each other and thoughtful," Ibarra said. "It's like a big, happy family."

His love and devotion for the school are so strong that he wants to come back when he grows up and teach here.

That would mirror exactly the path of his teacher, Laverne Suster. A second-grader when the school started on Aug. 28, 1967, Suster returned to the North Road campus as a 22-year-old college graduate to teach at the school. Twenty-six years later, Suster is still there.

"There is a family atmosphere here," Suster said. "But there's something else to the school. It really does seem like holy ground and there is a draw to the school. It's a place where everybody cares for everybody."

The school's longevity, she said, is testament to its place in the 'Ewa Beach community. "The relationship really comes from our students, and through various service projects and other things that we do, we have the students go out to the community," Suster said.

"At first, we were relatively unknown because we're down this long (North Road) that's not the main drag through town, but throughout the years, more and more people have come to know that we're here and we've placed a greater footprint in the community. I think without us here, there would be something really missing in the community."

The school has taken off since Ah Chick, a local girl who graduated from St. Francis High School, arrived on campus six years ago.

Enrollment increased from 185 in 2002 to 226 this fall. There is one class per grade level from kindergarten to eighth grade, with an average of 25 students. This year's graduating eighth-grade class has 32.

"We have a good and dedicated faculty and staff," Ah Chick said, when asked to explain the increase in enrollment.

Last year's graduates have gone on to Punahou, Saint Louis, St. Francis, Sacred Heart, Damien and Maryknoll, among other high schools.

What's more, the school was able to clear a $243,000 deficit within two years of Ah Chick's arrival. She had anticipated it would take five years.

But the 21-member faculty-staff team, parents, parishioners and other supporters joined forces to create a one-day family fair that takes place the first Saturday of March each year. Now, proceeds from the event are used to upgrade curriculum and boost teacher salaries.

Ah Chick said plans call for a preschool building, since there appears to be a strong need for pre-elementary services. The school hopes to clear at least $15,000 from the Sept. 21 dinner as seed money for the project. More than 600 are expected for the event, which will kick off with a Mass conducted by Bishop Larry Silva and also features live entertainment, awards and prizes.

Further in the distance, Ah Chick envisions a multipurpose facility that may serve as a cafeteria and gym.

Third-grade teacher Remedios Cabrera, who has taught at the school for 26 years, said she envisions that in its next 40 years, Our Lady of Perpetual Help will have its own high school.

"I expect this school to continue to be progressive," Cabrera said. "That's what I see in the future."

Ah Chick doesn't want school officials to look too far ahead, however.

"We have to take care of the daily ordinary activities and see what we can do in the best interest of the students," she said. "Buildings are essential, but it's the people who are in the buildings that are more important."

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.