The school landscape ‘North of the mountain’ has one less shining light tonight..
Trinity’s board of pastors announced that the school at Cherry and Chestnut Streets will close in June, at the end of the 2020-21 school year.
The Sentinel reports on the announcement:
“With the COVID-19 pandemic, the weekly parish collections over the last year have been far less,” the board wrote to parents. “With declining school enrollment, decreasing infant baptisms, limited parish reserves, and substantially less weekly parish income, there is not enough income for the school to remain open. The decision to close Trinity Academy was not an easy one to make, however, we must be responsible for the good of the school and our parishes,” they added. The closure was reviewed by the Diocesan Council of Priests and the Diocesan Board of Education, and approved by Bishop Alfred Schlert. We are so grateful to Sister Margaret McCullough, IHM and the teachers and staff for all of their dedicated efforts with our students and to our parents for the many sacrifices they have made to support Trinity Academy,” the board writes. “Their efforts, particularly this year with the many challenges of the pandemic have been extraordinary.”
HISTORY COMING TO A CLOSE
Trinity Academy was established in August 2006 as a pre-kindergarten to grade 6 Catholic elementary school to continue the legacy of Catholic education for the children of Upper Schuylkill County after the closing of Holy Family School, Frackville, Immaculate Heart School, Girardville, and Father Walter J. Ciszek Elementary School, Shenandoah.
The name “Trinity” was chosen for the new school to reflect the unity of three schools coming together as one. After the closing of Cardinal Brennan Junior/Senior High School at the end of the 2007 school year, Trinity Academy welcomed grades seven and eight. More recently, Trinity has also welcomed students from The Academy of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School in Mahanoy City and McAdoo Catholic, McAdoo.
From Trinity’s website *still running as of this moment*: Trinity Academy’s mascot is the Charger, and the school colors are blue and gold. In choosing this mascot and these colors, we hope to always honor the proud past of Cardinal Brennan High School…
And now Trinity has the same fate as Cardinal Brennan had..
The colors .. blue and gold.. Those colors don’t run. But they sure do close….
From the reporting in the Sentinel:
“We explored many options to keep this school operating, but unfortunately there is no fiscally viable option,” said Dr. Brooke Tesché, Chancellor of Catholic Education in a media release. “I recognize this is difficult for our students, parents, teachers and staff,” she said. “We hope that the two nearest Catholic schools in our diocese, Saint Jerome Regional School in Tamaqua, and Assumption BVM School in Pottsville, can become a new home to these families.”
Now enrolling
The news came fast and furious on this not so good Friday.. so quick that it seems the school has yet to find out! The website for Trinity is still linking 2021/22 enrollment for new students and kindergarten..
NOT THE FIRST. BUT THE LAST
That’s it..
Catholic Education in Northern Schuylkill County, looks dead. The rich history that dates back decades.. the jokes about the ‘Catlicks vs the public schools..’ All gone. All dead.
One by one, they fell by the wayside.
And we reported many times on them on this page:
HOLY SPIRIT SCHOOL IN MOUNT CARMEL
And yes.. Cardinal Brennan
Back in 2007, I actually reported on an old Blog about the fate of Cardinal Brennan and eventually was first to break news that the school was going to close, as children and teachers were crying and consoling each other in hallways..
The only Catholic schools that remain in Schuylkill County (*for now) are Hometown, Minersville, and Pottsville…
There is no doubt in our minds that children are going to be getting a gut punch when they realize their safe place to learn and worship is closing.. the carpet is being swept from under them, but it happened before. And will again.
In the same exact pattern and fashion. Rumor and gossip followed by an official announcement of a “study,” then public meetings and parental outcries.. and then silence before the May day deed is done. The closing of another Catholic school…
x x x
PAST HOPES
We bring you to June 6, 2006.. A hopeful time for Trinity Academy. A fund raising plan to ensure survival. Parents combining efforts to create a new spirit.. Modern marketing..
Survival.
That was then. This is now.
The school had a nice run, but not long enough some would say..
But who has a say?
The reason for this closing is simple. Enrollment down. No profit..
But the long history getting here? That’s another story.
One each and every person debates in their minds and souls..
Meanwhile, the Northern part of the county gets a little less spirit.. And the blue and gold are officially gone forever.
