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...

"Wait until after lunch"

Though some members of the clergy wanted the announcement of CB's closure to wait until after lunch, a few teachers (at least two) began telling class persons during homeroom.. The news quickly began to leak out and reverberate through the area..

The death of Cardinal Brennan High. A fixture in many lives for many years..

More coming.

The deed is done..

> Cardinal Brennan shutting down..
> A very reliable source informs the Bell Tower Blog that after all the debate, Cardinal Brennan will be no more. Teachers are reportedly crying in hallways.. children shocked at the news that everyone knew was coming. It was just a matter of time from the beginning...
>
> More as it develops. But now, March 23, 2007: The beginning of the end of Cardinal Brennan.
>
>
> More coming as I learn information..

A few interesting facts..

The Allentown MORNING CALL reporting on the possible closure of another school Our Lady of the Angels:

"Further spooking parents was a statement by Principal Sister Regina Elinich, who said that when the study began, ''I was told not to take registration.

Parent George Stianche said that failing to enroll is ''a nail in the coffin'' because it would discourage parents from considering the school.

Parent Chris Henritzy warned that ''if we start failing at the primary level, we can forget about Marian [Catholic High School, Rush Township].''Last year, the diocese closed two schools in northern Schuylkill County, merging them with a third.

Students from Immaculate Heart Elementary School in Girardville and Holy Family School in Frackville will join Father Walter J. Ciszek Elementary School in Shenandoah, the diocese Board of Pastors decided in April 2006.

The combined enrollment for the three schools was 274. Enrollment at Trinity is about 120.

St. John Neumann Regional School in Palmerton and Slatington are asking questions and offering comments on a similar study that started earlier. Studies also are being done at Cardinal Brennan Junior-Senior High School in Ashland.

A busy school closing Spring for Bishop Cullen..