The Allentown MORNING CALL reporting on a mad rush to find a new school for next year..

There is also interest in Lourdes Regional High school ..

"Cardinal Brennan students who live west of Ashland may also consider Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School in Coal Township, Northumberland County, operated by the Diocese of Harrisburg, said Allentown Diocese spokesman Matt Kerr"

Nativity, with 194 students (Cardinal Brennan being closed with 171 by the way) said it could handle an influx of students from Cardinal Brennan..

Posters and displays were at Marian to advertise to prospective students.. sports and studies..

The MORNING CALL story goes on to report more in depth about the decimation of Catholic education in Schuylkill county..

The long road to .. Marian?

The Pottsville REPUBLICAN reporting on Marian's popularity in the aftermath of the Cardinal Brennan closing..

Several students, according to sources to the Bell Tower Blog, have not decided on where the next school will be--and also have decided that the choice is not one that they want to even be making at this time..

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.