Archdiocese: Schools to Form Independent System

Faith in the Future Foundation will manage new Philadelphia Catholic school system.

Continuing a year of restructuring, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Tuesday it would create a new independently managed Catholic school system for area high schools and special education schools. In a press conference at St. Hubert's High School in Northeast Philadelphia, Archbishop Charles Chaput said the Faith in the Future Foundation—which oversaw the mergings and closings of elementary schools earlier this year—would manage 17 high schools and four special education schools beginning Sept. 1. Chaput said the independent system would focus on major fundraising, enrollment management, marketing and cultivating best practices in leadership and education. "The willingness of lay leaders with a love for Catholic education to step …

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Nativity BVM School Closes Doors; Community Starts New Journey

The Nativity BVM School community came together for one final mass on Friday before closing its doors to Catholic education.

With tears, tissues, thanks, hugs and goodbyes Nativity BVM School honored its final, last day of school at mass on Friday morning. Past and present students, parents, teachers and members of the community came together one final time as a Nativity community to say goodbye. Students wore T-shirts announcing what year they "should have" graduated from Nativity along with bracelets that read, "Nativity BVM 1912-2012, Forever in Our Hearts." The Nativity students are headed in many different directions next school year. Several will head to St. Mary Magdalen School in Upper Providence, others will go to St. Thomas the Apostle in Aston, some will enter the Rose Tree Media School District and a few will head to Mother of Providence Regional …

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Graduation 2012

100th and Final Class Graduates from Nativity BVM School

The 21 students from Nativity BVM School's Class of 2012 were honored Wednesday.

Nativity BVM School celebrated its final and 100th graduating class on Wednesday. "We were always ready for this, but with the school closing it's much more emotional," Virgina Marcozzi, 14, said. The 21 graduating 8th graders received their certificates and will move on to several different high schools next year, including Cardinal O'Hara, Villa Maria Academy, Malvern Prep, St. Joseph's Prep, Merion Mercy Academy, Penncrest, Strath Haven, Archbishop Carroll, Bonner, Bishop Shanahan and Salesianum School.  The 8th graders were excited to graduate but said it was a bittersweet ceremony as they will be the final class to graduate from the 100-year-old school. "It's so sad but I'm excited for high school," Sarah Matson, 14, said. Nativity …

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Saying Goodbye to Nativity BVM School

Nativity BVM School will graduate its last class on Wednesday and close its doors to Catholic education on Friday.

Whether its seen as heartbreak or hope for the future, Nativity BVM School will graduate its last class on Wednesday and close its doors to Catholic education on Friday. The final Nativity BVM 8th Grade Class of 2012 will be honored and celebrated on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Nativity BVM Church. The Class of 2012 will be the last graduating class of Nativity's 100 years. The School's Closing Mass will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, also at the church. Nativity BVM School will close following the Archdiocese and Blue Ribbon Commission's decision to merge the school with St. John's Chrysotom at its Wallingford location to create Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School in September. Here is a glimpse of some of the articles Media Patch …

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Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School Selects New Principal

The new regional Catholic school's name has been officially determined and a new principal has been selected but the enrollment turnout is currently low.

The Nativity BVM School and St. John Chrysostom school communities officially have a new school name and principal. The merged schools will now be called Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School, according the regional school's website. Parents who registered their children for the new school prior to the March 26 deadline had the opportunity to vote on the name. Therese Waters was also announced as the new school principal. Waters was previously the principal at St. Patrick Catholic School in Kennett Square since 2007 and was a seventh and eighth grade science and religion at Saints Simon and Jude School in West Chester prior to that, according to the website. Mary Anne Johnston, currently principal of Nativity BVM, was offered and …

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Archdiocese's Superintendent Resigns

Mary E. Rochford to leave the archdiocese in 2012.

Following a year of great transition for Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Catholic schools, superintendent Mary E. Rochford announced her resignation at year's end. "It has been my privilege to serve in the ministry of Catholic education for almost 40 years. A long time ago, when I was very young, a wise woman religious told me, 'Remember, you are only a useless servant.'  I have kept that in mind and worked as diligently as I could for the sake of the children and now I leave for the sake of my family," she said in a statement released by the archdiocese. The archdiocese accepted her resignation with "great reluctance," and said her decision was made in order to devote time to providing physical care for members of her family unable to do so…

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March 26 Deadline to Register for Regional Catholic School

Voting on the name of the new school will also end March 26. Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School is the current interim name.

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 …

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Nativity BVM Principal Resigns from Regional School Position

The Nativity BVM School principal who had accepted the role of principal at the future regional school has resigned from that future position.

Media Patch obtained a letter sent to Nativity BVM School parents saying the future principal of the new regional Catholic school has resigned from the position. Nativity BVM School Principal Mary Anne Johnston had accepted the position of principal of the new regional Catholic school on the same day the Nativity community held its last rally in an attempt to stay open. 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 way the ruling stands currently, Nativity BVM School …

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Video: Nativity BVM Community Pleads to Stay Open

Nativity BVM School Principal Mary Anne Johnston accepts position as new regional school's principal.

Many "Save Nativity BVM School" signs can be seen in State Street store front windows, more than 500 signatures have been signed to a petition and the voices and chants to keep Media's 100-year-old Catholic elementary school open have been loud—but is the Archdiocese of Philadelphia listening? The Nativity BVM School community held a rally Thursday night to voice again, the wish to be heard and the wish to keep its doors open come September. 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 …

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Nativity BVM Community to Hold Rally 5:30 p.m. Thursday

The Nativity BVM School community will hold a rally at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in front of the school to show support and present facts as to why the school should stay open.

The Nativity BVM School community continues to fight to keep the school open. They now are seeking the support of the Media Borough community, businesses and governement leaders in the hopes of keeping the school's 100 years of Catholic education going. A rally is set to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday in front of the school to gather community support and present facts as to why the school should stay open. On Feb. 17, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced St. John Chrysostom 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 way the ruling stands currently, …

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