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Parochial students rally against closures

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

January 10, 2012

After a rally, yellow ribbons and balloons adorned the front of Saint Huberts… (Alex Brandon/Associated…)

PHILADELPHIA - Students at several Philadelphia-area Catholic schools slated for closure staged rallies yesterday to voice their opposition to an archdiocese plan that would shut 48 schools.

Dozens of students gathered outside St. Hubert’s High School for Girls carrying signs, chanting, and singing the school’s alma mater.

St. Hubert’s is one of four Roman Catholic high schools slated for closure under a plan announced Friday by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The plan would also close 44 elementary schools because of declining enrollment and rising costs.

About 360 students from West Philadelphia Catholic High held a rally before classes began, chanting and holding up signs that read “Keep Our School Open.’’

The Rev. Michael Marone, the school minister, said he and his students are very passionate about West Catholic. The students vowed that yesterday’s rally would be the first of many. “We have so many good people who are interested in our school, who love our school,’’ Marone said. “They come into the building, they meet our kids and they say how wonderful they are.’’

Officials in the archdiocese say declining enrollments are forcing the closures, which will displace almost 24,000 students. The archdiocese’s student enrollment is down 35 percent since 2001.