The Diocese has spent over $2 million to sustain Coyle and Cassidy over the past three years. But the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Diocese’s finances is making it necessary to close the building, consolidating all high school students at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River. Current middle school students at Coyle and Cassidy will move to Our Lady of Lourdes in Taunton.
While these changes are coming up quickly due to the dire financial impact of the pandemic, we are making every effort to minimize the burdens of these decisions and to help students and parents adjust to the new logistics and landscape as easily as possible.
ACADEMICS
These changes will not affect the high standards and superior academic programs that meet the educational and workforce needs of the 21st century in an intentionally Christ-centered atmosphere. The ravaging effects of COVID-19 on our economy have required us to rethink how we can be the best stewards of our education dollars for students. That means educating the same number of students without running an operational deficit.
These consolidations allow us to continue to invest in Catholic education and ensure the quality of the program, building on what we have begun. By being more targeted in our investments, it will allow us to grow programs, and not maintain or regress.
Middle Schoolers at Our Lady of Lourdes: The Coyle and Cassidy curriculum and the teachers will be adopted and moved to Our Lady of Lourdes. The middle school program will have a vice principal to address academic and disciplinary matters and to assure ongoing communications with Bishop Connolly High School. Middle school students transferring to Our Lady of Lourdes will have the opportunity to travel to Fall River and take advantage of the state of the art science laboratory facilities at Bishop Connolly. In addition, the Middle School students will continue to have opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities at Bishop Connolly.
The Academy: The Academy and its strategic partners will continue to provide services to both the middle school and high school students with an emphasis on STEM. We will continue to lead our Catholic school community in the pursuit of excellence in science, technology, engineering, and math education.
LEAP: The LEAP program for gifted students will still be offered for eligible students entering 8th grade.
TUITION
We understand and appreciate that families have made an investment in their children’s education. No student will face an increase in tuition regardless whether they are moving to Bishop Connolly or Our Lady of Lourdes.
TRANSPORTATION
Free buses will be available to transport Coyle and Cassidy High School students to Bishop Connolly each morning and afternoon. Additionally, vans will be available to assist with transportation during the school day and for extra-curricular activities.
TRADITIONS
We appreciate the distinct identities of Coyle and Cassidy and Bishop Connolly. We also know that the programs that have been combined in theater and music and some sports teams have led to camaraderie and fruitful collaborations. We will endeavor to preserve the history and affinity for Coyle and Cassidy in the new homes of its students.
UNIFORMS
• Middle School: Students moving to Our Lady of Lourdes may continue to wear their current uniforms.
• High School: Rising seniors going to Bishop Connolly may continue to wear their current Coyle and Cassidy uniforms.
Extracurriculars: Over the past year, students from both Coyle and Cassidy and Bishop Connolly have begun working together in several extracurricular activities including a school play, football program, choir and more. The two communities have worked together as sister schools over the past year and will now join together in all academic and extracurricular endeavours. The union of the two communities will lead to one robust school community.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Bishop Connolly High School
Chris Myron, President
Email: cmyron@bchs.dfrcs.org
Kathy St. Laurent, Principal
Email: kstlaurent@cc.dfrcs.org
Our Lady of Lourdes
Mary Turner, Principal
Email: mturner@ololtaunton.com