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They put up a good fight, but administrators and parents were unable to save St. Brigid's Regional Catholic School in Watervliet. Officials announced this month that the school will close at the end of this academic year.

The decision saddened students, parents, staff and alumni of the 156-year-old school, which serves students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade - but many remain hopeful that its legacy will live on.

"It's been coming for a long time," said Rev. Edward Deimeke, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Watervliet/Green Island. But with at least two other Catholic schools within 10 minutes of St. Brigid's, he said, "there are alternatives for our kids."

For instance, James Rubino, a fifth-grader, will attend LaSalle Institute in Troy - chosen for its sports programs, college preparation and drill team. Many of St. Brigid's 135 students will attend Watervliet Elementary School or Catholic Central High School in Troy.

Many efforts
Supporters had tried to save St. Brigid's, donating thousands of dollars to snag bus and billboard ads featuring Sister Alice Jasinski, CR, a long-time teacher. They circulated 9,000 fliers encouraging parents to consider sending their children to the school. Students contributed $6,000 from cookie dough sales.

But even an annual, anonymous $15,000 donation to the scholarship fund, which helped 30 families, couldn't prevent the inevitable.

Immaculate Heart of Mary parish shared more than 40 percent of its budget with the school last year. Parish administrators say that the 2005 merger of six parishes in Watervliet and Green Island into one deterred parents from enrolling their students for fear of instability.

For the next school year, no classroom at St. Brigid's School would have surpassed 10 students; average class size in diocesan Catholic schools is 20 students.

This would hinder academic and social interaction, said Sister Jane Herb, IHM, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Albany Diocese. "With such small class sizes, we don't have the dynamics that would exist in a normal class," she explained.

Sister Jane added that, compared to previous years, fewer schoolchildren live in the Watervliet area.

"There will never be another St. Brigid's School," said Edward Maguire, the grandfather of three current students. He believes the money spent to renovate the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany should have gone to schools: "Without the schools, your Church is dying."

Hayley Fenton, Mr. Maguire's granddaughter, will start seventh grade at Catholic Central. She said she will miss Sister Alice and the school in general.

"For seven years, [I] woke up and saw the same faces," Hayley reminisced.

Even though eighth-grader Sean Hojak was gearing up to attend Catholic Central next year, he told The Evangelist that he sympathized with his sister, who would have returned to St. Brigid's next year.

Likewise, Shelby Fenton said it's a shame younger students won't experience traditions like "Eighth Grade Rules the School" - a day when eighth-graders play the role of teachers and secretaries - or students-against-teachers basketball and volleyball fundraisers. Plus, she remarked, "it's kind of sad because the school is kind of old." The closure of St. Brigid's leaves behind two school buildings and a hall with a gym and cafeteria.

"That's the end of an era," said Kay, a grandmother who requested anonymity. To deal with the sadness associated with the closing, she recommended talking to God: "Just keep on praying; that's all you can do. He'll listen."

The community is grieving a loss like that of a family member. Teachers at St. Brigid's gave families their home phone numbers and email addresses; they attended sporting events or came to church when students are serving on the altar.

Principal Ralph Provenza gave parents his cell phone number to talk about academic and personal issues. Kids were encouraged to talk to Molly, a seven-year-old rescued yellow lab mix, in Mr. Provenza's office when they had a problem.

Parents of students gave back, as well: Every summer, they painted, replaced carpets, patched walls, built science labs and scrubbed bathrooms. One parent re-wired the school hall this year; others coached sports teams. Twenty years ago, parents moved every desk to one building to save money on heating costs.

"They seem to be so grateful for Catholic education," said Sister Theresa Marie Finnerty, CSJ, a teacher at St. Brigid's for 28 years and then an office volunteer.

Sister Theresa has learned a lot from the reciprocal relationship: "It's taught me that you need cooperation - and when you get it, you have a wonderful system going."

Alumna remembers
Sister Carolyn Schanz, CSJ, a member of St. Brigid's class of 1948, was asked to run the choir at a school in Troy as her first assignment in religious life. She drew on her experiences in countless pageants and choir concerts at her alma mater.

Sister Carolyn also credits her third-grade teacher with inspiring her to become a nun: "I said, 'That's what I'm going to do, and I never changed my mind. That's where your vocations come from."

Sisters of St. Joseph taught at St. Brigid's for decades. Sister Carolyn's three brothers, two sisters, cousins and father also attended.

"I know it has to happen," she said of the closing, her voice cracking, "but it really is a shame. It breaks my heart. It's my school."

(05/06/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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