#delcocatholic
#mediapa
I was notified moments ago that there will be a community rally to support Nativity school. The event will be held tomorrow (3/1) @ 6pm in front of Nativity School.
Information will be posted as it becomes available.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
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I hope that all media outlets there so the message gets heard loud and clear. They have the support from the local community, business leaders and local government. Nativity BVM can survive and is financially viable even though they do not have the support of Father Bell. Who is supposed to help support the parishioners of his church.
ReplyDeleteThen why didn't Nativity appeal like St. Thomas and St. Francis?
DeleteWe did not have an opportunity to appeal, it was St. John that needed to appeal because the original Blue Ribbon Commission decided to have the regional school at the Nativity site in Media! there was nothing to appeal originally!!
DeleteBecause Nativity WON their decision. Why would they appeal a winning decision? Nativity was NOT PERMITTED to appeal the secondary decision like the other schools. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!
DeleteALL SJC FAMLIIES PLEASE SHOW UP TO THIS!
ReplyDeleteThis is not about Nativity versus SJC. It is about keeping the school open which has many benefits and is financially able to stand alone. Not comparing the two schools and saying there is widespread support to keep the school open in Media.
ReplyDeleteuhh why would SJ families show up? this has nothing to do with SJ--SJ families understand that their school has closed and that next year they are enrolling their children at Mother of Providence.
ReplyDeleteI really do not understand why this person is saying all SJC parents show up for this? It makes it sound like you are stirring up controversy when all it is,is parents trying to rally to save their school-Nativity has a right to do so-they aren't hurting anyone,let them be. And I hope you are aware there will be children there tomorrow night,children who love their school,they are upset enough as it is,don't turn this into something ugly-they have not said one bad thing about SJC. Nativity just feels that they can stand alone. I don't understand your point-if you are going to MPRCS next year there is no need for you to disrupt a Nativity gathering.
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY!!!!
DeleteThis person has no affilation with either, I just wanted to see if you would start bashing each other. You did.
DeleteIf the school is financial viable, why does it run at a loss? While the school is great, it does not appear that it is financial viable as a stand alone entity. It appears merging the two schools into one entity makes the most sense from an economic prospective in order to continue to provide both communities with top tier educational options. Neither school can continue to run as a stand alone entity. It is time to come together as one entity and work for the common good the will result when two great schools come together as one.
ReplyDeleteBoth schools require support from their local Parrish. Both can stand alone. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!
DeleteRead the BRC report, BVM looses money from running the school.
DeleteThe pastor of Nativity BVM and the Archdiocese have both said this is final and do not support further appeals or any more consideration. At what point do you accept the merger and move forward?
ReplyDeleteThat depends, where does YOUR child go to school?? Do you know anything about the differences in curriculum alone at Nativity compared to other Catholic Schools. You accept NOTHING if it is not in your child's best interest!!
DeleteWe will NEVER accept anything when our kids education is at stake. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT
DeleteIf the curriculum is superior, it could be implemented at the new school - especially if the Nativity principal is at the helm.
DeleteDoes this person know that capital letters implies yelling. Why do they keep yelling "GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT". Nativity seems like a bunch of yelling blowhards. Shut up already! You are not better than anyone else. Enough!
DeleteRose Tree Media is a very good School District. Go Public! Your children can always take Prep classes.
ReplyDeleteDidn't the original ruling effectively close both schools in their current form? So there was to be a new identity in name, colors, staff, etc? As I understand it, the SJC appeal had more to do with physical location. The arguments from either side about clss sizes, sustainability and fundraising are moot given that both were judged to be unsustainable on their own. If Nativity is appealing based on their stand alone sustainability, shouldn't they have done that when the BRC findings were released? Both shools were already folded, weren't they? The current campaign seems like sour grapes based on where the new shcool will be. Both schools have already lost their former identities. I'm not trying be judgemental, just want to understand.
ReplyDeleteYou are understanding things correctly... The leadership of the principal of Nativity who has now accepted the position at the new school, the high quality curriculum of Nativity and probably many of Nvbm traditions can all carry on at the new school.
DeleteThe original ruling did effectively close both schools. When SJ decided to appeal the location, NBVM did have a choice to wreak havoc on the entire Regional school decision handed down by the BRC and could have appealed to remain a standalone Parish school, BUT NBVM chose not to do that. THAT decision was based on a general agreement that, while NBVM was thriving, vibrant and growing, it could be even stronger if designated a Regional school and allowed to accept children outside of the Parish boundaries. This does not suggest any belief by the Parishioners or school families that the school could not stand alone, merely that if another school was struggling with enrollment and destined to close, than why not allow their children to come to our school and make our school even better. FURTHER, the Appeals process clearly stated that Appeals would be heard only if the original decision was based on inaccurate data. NBVM was informed that the data used to select the NBVM Media location was enrollment (NBVM growing 9% while SJ dropped 49%), fundraising (NBVM raising over $1 million for the school over the five year period ending 2010 compared to SJ which raised $79,000 for the school) and school subsidy (28% at NBVM which is extremely low compared to SJ at 48% and lower than most schools in the area) along with other factors where NBVM was strong/stronger than SJ. NBVM weighed this information and believed there was NOTHING to appeal. When the Appeal ruling came down, inaccurate data was referenced as the reason for approving the appeal (not inaccurate data given by SJ, just inaccurate data). Specifically, a “dream list” of ideas to implement at the school and the associated cost was used against NBVM as investment needed. This dream list and the associated cost should NEVER have been used. So, what you have seen over the past couple of weeks is not anger at SJ, it is anger over a process that was not transparent and did not follow its own rules. At NBVM, large groups of people (not just school families but Parishioners as a whole) have worked for years to invest in and build a thriving, vibrant school – together they have worked to raise the money that has built the programs that have made the school what it is: an amazing Catholic school with exceptional academics and unique programs -- that is a vital center to the Media community and the NBVM Parish. The Rally is our way of coming together as a community to try and show that the process was bad, very bad.
DeleteAll do respect to you, but many of the figures you are citing about SJC are inaccurate, not the least of which is the fact that when citing the fundraising, the numbers do not reflect the $3+ million in fundraising that was just completed by St. Johns. People are playing with the numbers on both sides. Not intentionally but it is happening. The reversal of the decision was based on a re-evaluation of the facts about the building, the campus and the possibiltiy of expansion down the line. If the schools are going to combine than a truly non-emotional decision needed to be made about location. If you look at both facilities do you honestly believe that the Wallingford campus does not have more to offer? If you disagree with merging and your belief is that Nativity should be able to exist alone, that is one thing. But if you believe the merged school would honestly be better in the Media location, than please cite why that is a better location.
DeleteThe commission recommended that both schools close and become one.
there's a saying that you can always lie with statistics. I would like to know what Nativity's percentage increase in enrollment would be if students from recently closed Catholic schools like St. Kevins and Our Lady of Charity were subtracted out. I would like everyone to realize that SJ numbers dropped when the school was not accepting students from outside the parish but other schoos like St. Mary Magadalen were flouting the AD's rule. I hate to say this but Nativity is already drawing students from outside its parish; if both schools were to stay open, they would be competing for students. This is what just "clicked" in my head; Nativity can't function without kids from outside its parish, just as SJ can't either. Having in essence two competing regional schools within five minutes of each other makes no sense to me. And that's really what would be happening--both schools needing to draw children from outside their parishes---am I getting redudant here? yes... IF the AD let Nativity stay open as a parish school and directed all students from parishes without schools to SJ, Nativity's numbers would probably drop somewhat quickly---just like what happened at SJ
DeleteAll due respect, but the numbers cited are accurate and meaningful. Yes, you raised and spent $2M or maybe even $3M. I looked at the photo book on your website showing the renovations and they are beautiful. However, of the 89 pages of photos, only 1 page shows classrooms (the ones under the church) and the other 88 pages show the church and parking lot and landscaping. None show the school building although I do recognize that some un-specified and relatively small amount of money was spent on the school building. So I can only assume that your priority was to beautify the church and parking lot while you went from 258 students (2005) to 152 (2010). What NBVM has been saying is that we have raised money and invested in staff, programs and marketing to build our school for the future. NBVM school does a significantly better job of funding itself through tuition and fundraising. NBVM is a gem, a model school and completely special and unique for many reasons that explain why it is growing and why families from closing schools had to FIGHT for the right to come to our school (we would be significantly larger if our Pastor had been allowed and/or had chosen to accept students from closing schools when they asked to come). So, yes, when I look at our “facility” and where it is in the heart of the Borough of Media, I do think it has more to offer. We do not want to fight. We just want the families of St. John's, the Archdiocese, the Office of Catholic Education, the two pastors, Bishop McIntyre and ArchBishop Chaput to understand that we do not feel that the Appeal process was transparent or fair. And, therefore, we feel that something great was taken away from us unfairly. Yes, we can rebuild and we will if we must – but we do not think it was the right choice and we do not think the decision was made in a fair manner. We simply ask for a review where both schools can present their cases together.
DeleteThey didn't have to lose their identity,the BRC said they didn't have to change their name-could have just been NativityBVM Regional school or vice versa for St. John's. The BRC made this entire process worse than it had to be. Schools have closed in the past and those students just went to another parish school with out all this nonsense about having to change names. Put Regional School at the end of the school's name and call it a day.
ReplyDeleteYou still don't seem to understand that keeping or changing the name was going to be a joint decision. It would have only stayed named nativity bvm if a MAJORITY on the implementation committee agreed to that. and the implementation committee had 50% representation from each school even while the appeal was being decided. And this committee picked the name, not just folks at SJ; if you had to hear about it on the SJ website its b/c your own folks chose not to share the name withe name with you.
DeleteThank you for that response. Good information presented in a polite way is part of what's needed here. My prayers are with you and the parishoners of SJC for a fair and resoanble resolution that avove all, serves the kids the best. I suppose appealing at the beginning or now could hurt SJC if Nativity were judged sustainable. It's a difficult situation. I agree that the process stinks. The AD had a chance to do something bold and creative with the BRC, but its more of the same. I think the AD needs a Board of Directors made up of layity and clergy. Too insular. Best of luck to all. I'm sure Fr. Bell did his best in what is a very strict hierarchical structure.
ReplyDeleteTo the Parents of SJC and Nativity,
ReplyDeletePlease, for the good of the children and the future of Catholic education in the Media and Wallingford areas, think about the future...and pray.
Pray that calmer heads prevail.
Pray that the good families of both Nativity and St. Johns start to come together and see the tremendous good that exists in each other and each school.
Pray that those that will truly be most affected by what is happening…the current and future families in both Media and Wallingford who seek a great Catholic elementary school education, are truly at the forefront of all of the decisions that are made.
Pray that everyone sees that this is the direction that Catholic elementary education is going. Regional Catholic Schools will have the ability to thrive. Individual parish schools will find it harder and hard to remain sustainable.
Pray that both parishes realize that they have an opportunity, right now, to begin to craft a brighter future that can include a better school by uniting, than could ever have existed by remaining divided.
Pray that those of us that are finding it difficult to let go of our loyalties to both St. John’s and Nativity take a step back and think. Think about what really is best for the future families of both of our communities. Those families deserve a chance to have a thriving Catholic school that is positioned to grow exponentially. They deserve a school that can offer more than any school offers today. They deserve a school that they also can love and become as loyal to, as all of us are to both Nativity and St. Johns today. Letting go of the past is difficult. Both of the Nativity and SJC communities should rightly mourn the loss of their beloved schools. But by letting go of our loyalties, we are giving a great gift to all of the children and families that will live in our communities in the future.
Pray that everyone has the strength to let go. Pray that everyone realizes that holding too firmly onto the past and not accepting the realities of the future, can cost others a more promising future.
Please pray that everyone involved recognizes that BOTH schools have been closed. SJC was not closed and asked to come to Nativity. Nativity was not closed and asked to go to SJC. It stings both communities that this happened. But the recommendation that was made, was that both schools close and merge into one new school. And while many question the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission, merging SJC and Nativity actually was very likely the “right call” in terms of setting up our communities to have a thriving Catholic elementary regional school in the future. For very concrete and logical reason, the Wallingford campus was the better “bricks and mortar” choice. Few could honestly argue that. This does not mean St. John’s school was chosen over Nativity. It means that Providence Road campus was chosen over the Media campus to be the site of the NEW SCHOOL.
Pray that both the Nativity and St. Johns school families start to see each other as one community. What unites them is much, much greater than what divides them. We all want a great Catholic elementary school to exist in the Media and Wallingford areas.
Pray that everyone begins to see that there is an opportunity for a very bright future here.
And please, pray that if a successful merger does not occur, that the children sitting in the desks at both St. Johns and Nativity today, come out of this feeling that their parents, faculty and parish, did their best to make the right decisions on their behalf and on behalf of all of those students yet to come.
Amazing! You are absolutely right. All this passion will be a HUGE asset to the new school.
Deletethat ride down 252 isn't worth the time.
ReplyDeleteBut once you drive down 252, you can easily pull into the private driveways and park in any of the many available spots in the private lot. Hurray for no more street parking in Media. I'm looking forward to that next year. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYeah... The drive is awful. We're out.
DeleteThat 4 minute drive to a new school with a huge campus with rolling hills, ball fields, loads of safe parking, an awesome gym, a playground, and soft grassy fields for my kids to play on, as well as the finest academics these 2 great schools will offer once combined? We visited, we loved it, and we signed up.
DeleteKids are resilient an I am teaching them that when something bad or sad happens, if we cannot change it, we take steps to embrace whatever God has in store for us. #movingforward
AMEN! We loved it too when we toured. It will be hard, but change is part of life.
DeleteThank you for your positive outlook. I am so excited about the opportunity for new friendships and learning experiences. Happy children Plus more happy children is something to celebrate. It's not easy but thank you for stopping by with an open mind.
DeleteIt was so nice to finally read positive things about SJC and not negative. Go take a tour of the school if you are still having doubts. It is hard for everyone during this time, but it is time to move on. Everything needs to be ready by March 25th and it won't be if this continues. Faculty and staff need to be hired and the principal has been...so time to move on. Know it is difficult, but time to turn the negative into a positive.
Delete