May 13, 2011 - St. Michael's Schoo Hudson to Join Immaculate Conception School In Fall 2011

The Catholic School Office for the Archdiocese has announced that St. Michael’s School in Hudson has been invited to join Immaculate Conception School in Marlborough beginning in the Fall of 2011.   Despite its vigorous efforts, St. Michael’s School has been unable to increase its enrollment, resulting in severe financial pressure for the parish. With this in mind St. Michael School will be unable to effectively continue its mission of Catholic education in September 2011. 

Enrollment for St. Michael’s School is currently 133 with only 94 students registered for the Fall 2011.  Overall the school has realized a decrease of 48% since 2006/2007.  Enrollment at Immaculate Conception has held firm and is currently 191.

In separate letter to their school communities, the pastors informed parents that an open house will be held for St. Michael’s families on Tuesday, May 17th from 6-7:30pm.

Reflecting on the announcement, Rev. Ron Calhoun, pastor of St. Michael Parish said, “As Christians we believe that Easter always follows Good Friday and, so, today along with this sad news, I am able to share some good news.  Beginning in September 2011 our students, who so choose, will be welcomed to attend Immaculate Conception School in Marlborough.”  He praised the Immaculate Conception community stating, “please know of my enormous gratitude to Rev. Michael W. MacEwen of Immaculate Conception for his generous assistance and strong leadership in ensuring that we are able to continue to provide Catholic education to our families. I also want to thank Mrs. Martha McCook, Principal at Immaculate Conception, for her gracious welcoming of our school community.  To make the transition smoother for families of St. Michael’s, Fr. MacEwen has graciously decided to offer the Immaculate Conception in-parish tuition rate for the first year (2011/2012 school year).”

In welcoming the St. Michael’s community to Immaculate Conception Rev. Rev. Michael W. MacEwen, Pastor, and Mrs. Martha M. McCook, Principal, stated, “We have much to offer the families of St. Michael’s and they have much to bring to our school community.  Our teachers, staff, parents and especially our students make us immensely proud and we have no doubts that the manner in which new students and families will be assisted in the weeks to come will continue to do so.”

Following are their letters informing families of the announcement.

Letter to St. Michael’s Parents/Guardians
May 12, 2011

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have conducted a vigorous and valiant effort over the past two years to market our school and to recruit more families and students. Despite all our efforts, we have been unable to increase our enrollment, and this is contributing to severe financial pressure for the parish. With this in mind and after extensive discussions with the Archdiocese, I want to inform you that St. Michael School will be unable to effectively continue its mission of Catholic education in September 2011. Notwithstanding our efforts and the countless hours of support and outreach from parents, volunteers, teachers and staff our enrollment is projected to decrease significantly next school year. Due to the very recent increase in the number of families who have decided not to re-enroll, we have not reached the minimum number of students required to remain economically viable. In fact we have just 94 students registered for the 2011/2012 school year, which represents a 48% decrease from the 2006/2007 school year.  This year we had 133 students enrolled.

As Christians we believe that Easter always follows Good Friday and, so, today along with this sad news, I am able to share some good news.  Beginning in September 2011 our students, who so choose, will be welcomed to attend Immaculate Conception School in Marlborough.

An Open House will be held at Immaculate Conception School for parents and students of St. Michael School to welcome them to visit the school and speak to the teachers, pastor and principal.  The Open House will be held at Immaculate Conception Upper School, 119 Washington Street, Marlborough, on Tuesday, May 17 from 6-7:30pm.  I would urge you to please make every effort to attend the Open House to learn more about Immaculate Conception. St. Michael School students who wish to continue their education will be welcomed to join Immaculate Conception School. In addition, in the next weeks we will be holding a series of meetings for St. Michael School parents who wish to come in and visit with St Michael’s Principal, Mrs. Anne Dailey and Immaculate Conception’s Principal, Mrs.Martha McCook.  An announcement will be forthcoming on available times following the Open House at Immaculate Conception.  

Please know of my enormous gratitude to Rev. Michael W. MacEwen of Immaculate Conception for his generous assistance and strong leadership in ensuring that we are able to continue to provide Catholic education to our families. I also want to thank Mrs. Martha McCook, Principal at Immaculate Conception, for her gracious welcoming of our school community.  To make the transition smoother for families of St. Michael’s, Fr. MacEwen has graciously decided to offer the Immaculate Conception in-parish tuition rate for the first year (2011/2012 school year).  This will result in a savings for St. Michael families. Details will follow.

I extend my sincere appreciation to our teachers, staff, and our principal Mrs. Anne Dailey for their tireless commitment to St. Michael School. They have provided a vibrant Catholic educational experience for our students that is enriching and faith filled. They make us immensely proud to be associated with this distinguished team of professionals.
 
Teachers and staff at St. Michael School will have an opportunity to be considered for positions in Catholic schools in the area. The Catholic Schools Office will begin working with teachers and staff in the weeks ahead to assist them during this period.

There are many wonderful memories to remind us of the good years that St. Michael School has served our community here in Hudson. We want to treasure these and to honor our students, teachers, staff, alumni and parish. Thank you for your understanding and patience. And please join me in thanking Immaculate Conception Parish and School for all they are doing to welcome our students and families.

Please be assured of my prayers for you and your families. 
 
God bless you,
Rev. Ronald G. Calhoun

Letter to Immaculate Conception Parents/Guardians
May 12, 2011

Dear Parents and Guardians

We are writing to you today to inform you that the students and families of St. Michael School in Hudson are being invited to join our parish school community beginning with the next school year, 2011-2012. Mrs. McCook and I extended this invitation after being informed by the Catholic Schools Office that St. Michael’s Parish would not be in a financial position to effectively continue its mission of Catholic education and only after consultation with the pastor, Fr. Calhoun, principal, Anne Dailey and the Archdiocese.  We, Mrs. McCook and I, are pleased to say that they have accepted our offer.  Beginning in September 2011 St. Michael’s School students, who so choose, will be welcomed to join our school.

This news may come as a surprise to you just as it will be for our friends and colleagues in Hudson.  We can be sure that this is a very difficult moment for the entire St. Michael’s school community.  Please keep them in your prayers.

To assist the families in making decisions regarding the furtherance of their children’s Catholic education, Immaculate Conception School will host an Open House for parents and students of St. Michael’s School on Tuesday evening, May 17th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  We are confident, that working together as a school community, we will do everything in our power to make this transition as smooth as possible for all who choose Immaculate Conception. We have much to offer the families of St. Michael’s and they have much to bring to our school community.  Our teachers, staff, parents and especially our students make us immensely proud and we have no doubts that the manner in which new students and families will be assisted in the weeks to come will continue to do so.

With assurances of our prayers in this time of transition, and asking God to bless you, we are,

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Michael W. MacEwen, Pastor                                                                           
Mrs. Martha M. McCook, Principal