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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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St. Joachim Parish Elementary
School in Cedarhurst To Close |
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ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, April 12, 2005 - The Diocese
of Rockville Centre announced today that St. Joachim
parish elementary school in Cedarhurst will close at the
conclusion of the 2004-2005 academic year in June 2005.
Over the past ten years, St. Joachim’s school
experienced a 53 percent decrease in enrollment in its
kindergarten through eighth grade student population.
St. Joachim parish school has been supported by a small
parish of 722 registered families. Further, six students
enrolled in St. Joachim’s school live within the
geographic boundaries of the Diocese of Rockville
Centre, while 118 students reside within the geographic
boundaries of the Diocese of Brooklyn. The current
enrollment of 123 students along with next year’s
registered enrollment of 130 make continuation of the
school financially unsustainable. Administrators,
teachers, parents and parishioners were notified of the
closing last week. Registration fees paid to the school
in anticipation of the 2005-2006 academic year will be
returned.
A hoped for increase in enrollment resulting from the
recently announced school closings in the Brooklyn
diocese did not materialize. “We have tried every way to
encourage parents in the community and area communities
to send their children to us,” said Reverend Paul F.
Rahilly, pastor, Church of St. Joachim, Cedarhurst, N.Y.
“However, high tuition, the burden of transportation and
extended fees have taken their toll. Add to the mix that
ours is a small parish and the financial burden becomes
much more difficult to handle.”
School administration is assisting affected families in
choosing alternative Catholic schools in the Diocese of
Rockville Centre and the Diocese of Brooklyn. “We will
make sure that every student in our school has an
opportunity to continue their value-centered education
in the Catholic school system,” said Sister Barbara
Yander, CSJ, principal, St. Joachim school.
“It’s very, very difficult for a parish to make the
decision to close a school,” said Sister Joanne
Callahan, OSU, superintendent of schools, Diocese of
Rockville Centre. “However, after much deliberation with
Father Rahilly, Sister Barbara and parish trustees, it
was agreed that the parish could not continue to support
the school. It was because of the sheer dedication and
sacrifice of the parishioners, administrators and
teachers that the school remained open for as long as it
did.”
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About The Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Diocese of Rockville Centre was formed in 1957 and
covers 1,222 square miles in Nassau and Suffolk
Counties. The diocese serves approximately 1.5 million
Catholics (total population in both counties is
approximately 3 million). There are 134 parishes in 119
towns. Last year over 21,000 baptisms, 18,000
confirmations, 21,000 first communions and 5,000
marriages took place in the diocese. There are 2,622
students in kindergarten, 26,738 in primary or
elementary school, 11,979 in secondary school and 9,310
in higher institutions. There are 77 Catholic elementary
schools, high schools and colleges/universities in the
diocese. Catholic Health Services of Long Island
consists of five hospitals, three nursing homes, two
home care agencies, two senior housing complexes, a
community-based home for those with special needs and a
hospice. These facilities served over 743,000 people
last year. For more information visit
www.drvc.org
For more information:
Sean P. Dolan
sdolan@drvc.org
516-678-5800, ext. 625
Cell: 516-510-0473 |
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