The Nativity BVM and St. John Chrysostom school communities came together at a regional school meeting Thursday night.

St. John's Pastor Father Ed Hallinan and Nativity's Pastor Father Ed Bell spoke to the more than 150 people in attendance and answered their questions and concerns.

On Feb. 17, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced St. John Chrysostom, of Wallingford, won its Blue Ribbon Commission appeal to host a regional elementary school after it and Nativity merge next school year. The Blue Ribbon Commission originally recommended the regional school be located at the Media facility. The Nativity BVM School building will close its doors at the end of the school year.

Registration/Tuition

The deadline to register students for the new regional school is March 26. Once there is a better idea of how many students will be attending the regional school in September, the adminstration can hire teachers and finalize plans. The tuition rate for one child, in grades first through eighth, in a participating Catholic parish, will be $3,040. (See the attached PDF file for all of the tuition rate break downs).

New Principal

Last week, Nativity BVM Principal Mary Anne Johnston resigned from the future position of regional school principal, which she had previously been offered. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia, with the assistance of Hallinan and Bell, are currently looking to fill the position once again.

According to a new regional school website that has been created, the Office of Catholic Education is conducting pre-interviews for a new principal and will make candidate recommendations to Bell and Hallinan, who will make the final choice of the new regional school principal.

School Name

The new school is currently named Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School. Hallinan said at Thursday's meeting that the name stems from Nether Providence and Upper Providence townships, implying the locations of each former school. St. John is located in Nether Providence, however Nativity is located in Media Borough not Upper Providence Township.

If parents register their children for the new school by March 26, they are encouraged to vote on the school name or suggest another name. However, neither St. John Chrysostom nor Nativity BVM can be retained, and per Archdiocesan rules the word "academy" cannot be used in the school name, according to the regional school website.

Tours/Open House

Tours and open houses of the St. John facility are also underway. Tours during school hours (which is encouraged) or in the afternoons or evenings can be arranged by calling 610-874-3418. Open Houses are being held on Wednesday mornings as well and children are encouraged to tour the facility. A larger Open House is also set for Sunday, March 25.