CAPE MAY — Fall enrollment for Our Lady Star of the Sea School is 140 students, a figure that pleases a committee of parents hoping to save the school from closing next year.
Parents received a letter May 12 informing them the school will close its doors in September 2010 due to low enrollment. The letter informed parents the school will merge with St. Ann’s Regional School in Wildwood.
A committee of parents of Our Lady Star of the Sea School students is continuing to develop a business plan they hope will reduce subsidies from three parishes and keep the school from closing.
Our Lady Star of the Sea PTA President Frank Zilinek told the Herald the school had 165 students last year with a graduating class of 21 with 20 students leaving the school.
“We were thinking we’d be down around 100, so to come up with 140 is real nice,” he said.
The school’s kindergarten class has 12 students, which Zilinek said was a pleasant surprise. A total of 24 new students will attend the school which opens today.
A Back to School night was held Aug. 26.
“There’s a real nice outlook among all the parents and the faculty,” he said.
The school’s curriculum has been updated. All teachers are returning to the school other than one teacher that moved and a nun that was moved to a different order, said Zilinek. Both were replaced.
The school’s Spanish program is being expanded down to the Pre-K level. Upper grades will receive three days per week of Spanish instruction, up from two days per week last year, he said.
Students may still register for the school year. Zilinek said financial assistance is available.
Our Lady Star of the Sea School Foundation is continuing to formulate a business plan to keep the school open beyond this school year, which will be presented to the Catholic Diocese of Camden.
The foundation’s Web site is www.savestaroftheseaschoolcapemay.org
