School Closures - CS Alliance

School Closures

"As the unified Body of Christ, we will continue to strengthen the future of Catholic education. And while we will do this together, we will look back, but more importantly, look to the future."

In an April 15, 2020 announcement, Bishop da Cunha indicated that,

“In the Temple one day, Jesus was teaching. At some point during his lesson, Jesus said, ‘Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.’ Many people thought He was speaking of the building perched atop the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, but, rather, he was speaking of his body – the Easter resurrection!

Similarly, Catholic schools are not only about the buildings but about a community that advances the Church’s mission to know and to love the resurrected Jesus.

The Diocese has worked hard to maintain educational excellence, to expand our enrollment and recruitment activities, to bolster our financial aid pools, and to sustain schools that have been financially challenged.  Despite these efforts, two schools have had a significant decline in enrollment.

In addition, the recent global pandemic of COVID-19 has not only caused great suffering for many, it has also adversely impacted the Diocese’s finances. The continued decline in enrollment coupled with the unavoidable financial reality leaves the Diocese without the resources to continue to keep Coyle and Cassidy and St. Margaret Primary operational.”

As of June 30, 2020, both of these schools will cease operations and information on where students can enroll is located below.

  • COYLE AND CASSIDY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL CLOSURE

    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

  • ST. MARGARET PRIMARY SCHOOL CLOSURE

    The Diocese has worked hard to maintain educational excellence, to expand our enrollment and recruitment activities, to bolster our financial aid pools, and to sustain St. Margaret Primary.   The Diocese spent $750,000 to sustain the school over the past two years. But the global pandemic of COVID-19 has not only caused great suffering for many, it has also adversely impacted the Diocese’s finances. The Diocese does not have the resources to continue to keep St. Margaret Primary operational.

    St. Margaret Primary is closing at the end of the school year, and all its students will be welcomed at other Catholic schools within the Diocese. By consolidating our resources and bringing students together in these schools, we can continue to provide high quality Christ-centered education for all of our students.

    SCHOOL OPTIONS

    We want you to know that 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.

    We would be more than happy to facilitate Zoom meetings with each of the principals as an introduction to each school.

    St. Pius X Catholic School
    321 Wood Road
    South Yarmouth, MA 02664
    Phone: (508) 398-6112
    https://www.spxschool.org/

    Anne Dailey, Principal
    Email: adailey@spxschool.org
    Services children in grades Pre-K through 8th grade.
    Current enrollment – 232 students

    St. Joseph Catholic School
    100 Spring Street
    Fairhaven, MA 02719
    Phone: (508) 996-1983
    https://www.saintjosephschool.org/

    Faith Piazza, Principal
    Email: fpiazza@sjsf.dfrcs.org
    Services children in grades Pre-K through 8th grade.
    Current enrollment – 173 students

    St. Francis Xavier School
    223 Main Street
    Acushnet, MA 02743
    Phone: (508) 995-4313
    https://www.sfxacushnet.com/

    Michelle Russo, Principal
    Email: mrusso@sfxacushnet.com
    Services children in grades Pre-K through 8th grade.
    Current enrollment – 218 students

    ACADEMICS

    These changes will not affect the high standards and superior academic programs or the safe and nurturing environment one expects in a Catholic elementary school.  The three school options fully support the mission of the Church and provide an intentionally Christ-centered atmosphere.

    These consolidations allow us to continue to invest in Catholic education and ensure that academic quality and advancing the mission continues. By targeting the Diocese’s investments rather than spending money to maintain operations, all dollars spent will focus on creating the best learning environment for our students.

    TUITION

    ● Catholic education with strong academics in a safe environment continues to be an important and worthwhile investment for families
    ●  No student will face an increase in tuition regardless of whether they chose to send their child to St. Pius X in Yarmouth, St. Joseph’s School in Fairhaven or St. Francis Xavier in Acushnet
    ● Each of the Catholic elementary schools can advise St. Margaret Primary families on final tuition costs.

    TRANSPORTATION

    ● The student bus service from Buzzards Bay to Hyannis will continue to be available for families who have children attending St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School or St. John Paul II High School in Hyannis.