11 New York Catholic schools need saving
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2009/01/13/2009-01-13_11_new_york_catholic_schools_need_saving.html BY OREN YANIV, ERIN DURKIN AND MEREDITH KOLODNER DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS Tuesday, January 13th 2009, 4:00 AM 11 Catholic schools are closing including Our Lady Of Perpetual Egan-Chin/News 11 Catholic schools are closing including Our Lady Of Perpetual Help (OLPH) (SHOWN HERE) on 6th Ave. & 59th st. and Our Lady of Angels (OLA) on 74th st & 3rd Ave., both in Bay Ridge. Related News Articles * Exams put schools in a testy budget bind * Stimulus plan will bolster N.Y. schools - pols Nearly a dozen Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens are slated to close this summer because of plummeting enrollment, diocesan officials said Monday. The proposal would shutter 11 schools and merge nine others to form three new schools. "I'm sad," said 8-year-old Alvin Acheampong, a third-grader at Flatbush Catholic Academy in Brooklyn, among those scheduled to close their doors in June. "I like my school. I make new friends and I learn a lot. "I don't know how they could close my school." As at most Catholic schools across the nation, enrollment has been steadily declining in New York. The number of kids attending Catholic elementary schools in Brooklyn and Queens has dropped about one-third over the past decade: In 1998, 55,000 students were enrolled, compared with 37,000 children in 209 schools this year. "It's a surprise to me," said Rachel Connolly, president of the parents' association at Our Lady of Angels in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. She was on the verge of tears as she spoke. "I've had a very positive experience over here," said the mother of a third-grader and a kindergartener. In 2005, the diocese closed 25 schools and seven have closed since then. This year's closure and consolidation process, dubbed "Preserving the Vision," began last September. Meetings were held with parents and community groups. Officials will take feedback from parents on the proposal in the coming weeks. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will make the final decision before registration opens for the 2009-2010 school year on Feb. 23. "I am committed to ensuring that our Catholic schools are accessible geographically and financially to the people of our Diocese," DiMarzio said in a statement. "When we determined that our schools are operating at only 85% of capacity, it became clear that we had to consider why this was happening and how we might reverse the trend." <mailto:[email protected]> The diocese is hoping not to lose too many students in the consolidation process. About 80% of teachers and students have stayed in the Catholic school system after previous school closings. <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] <*}}}>< <http://astore.amazon.com/halthekin-20>Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Kingdom!<*}}}>< Lord, may everything we do begin with Your inspiration and continue with Your help, so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Catholics on Fire" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
