Let me know your thoughts..

Do you want to see a permanent message board established on this page? Perhaps something to continue the memory of Cardinal Brennan for years to come? Any other suggestions of what you would like to see happen? Please let me know.. Email me or post a message.

The next phase..

Finding a school. And not a college..

Will it be Nativity? If not a Hilltopper, will it be Marion? If not being bussed miles away from your house.. perhaps it's Shenendoah Valley High?

The Pottsville REPUBLICAN reporting that Shendodoah Valley is getting ready for an influx of Brennan students.

The Bishop's claim that Catholic education is alive and well in Northern Schuylkill county about to be put to the test.

A test he came up with.

Sales time

> Let the selling begin: Nativity and Marion representatives were at Cardinal Brennan yesterday to give the fine points of why their respective schools are the obvious choices for the kids.
>
> Cardinal Brennan, after all, will be no more after June of this year. Only a Pope can stop a Bishop in a process like this.. Ratzinger most likely has other things on his plate besides a small town Catholic School in the Coal Region.
>
> Nativity offered up an idea yesterday: Co-validictorians. This year's junior CB class, if they went to Nativity, would have representation during next year's graduation. A one time only deal.
>
> Academics, sports, school spirit. All different. New school colors.. a brand new Alma Mater. So many changes awaiting the class of 2008 and 2009.. and 2010. And beyond.
>
>

The final march..

Girardville was covered with green yesterday for the annual St Patrick's Day parade.. During the parade, Cardinal Brennan's blue and gold was seen for the final time: The small marching band that was organized a few years back marched through the main street of the town--this year however they teamed with Marian Catholic. Wonder when that was planned?

The talk of the town, though, in many instances was the future of Cardinal Brennan's grounds, the building, and the students and teachers.

There are 168 students now searching for a new school--juniors searching for a high school rather than a college as the Pottsville REPUBLICAN pointed out yesterday..
There's more than 20 teachers without jobs. Though past classes wouldn't know the new fresh faces of the 2000s, they would still be able to go back and see a few faces familiar.

This will be a life changing event--just as it was in Girardville last year and other schools in other states at other times.

Perhaps the most ironic part: One students who had his grade school, Immacuate Heart, close down last year now has his high school, Cardinal Brennan, closed down this year. He will now have to back to a grade school, Trinity in Shenendoah, to complete his eigth grade. That is, of course, if he continues in Catholic school.

Today's REPUBLICAN

Principal Fowler appearing on the front page above the fold in tears..

The history of Cardinal Brennan reprinted in the paper today too.. The REPUBLICAN reporting today:

Rather than visiting colleges this summer, Cardinal Brennan 11th-grader Nicole Henning will tour high schools.
She’s part of the junior class at Cardinal Brennan Junior/Senior High School that will be forced out when the school closes June 8"

So few choices. So little time.

Media reports..

News media orgs picking up the CB story--hours after Bell Tower Blog was the first to break the story of the school closing..

The Pottsville REPUBLICAN

WNEP..

The Bishop wrote in his letter to parents that CB students "will receive a warm and enthusiastic welcome" at Marian High School in Tamaqua or Nativity BVM High School in Pottsville and that seventh and eighth grade instruction will be restored at Trinity Academy at the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center In Shenandoah beginning in September...