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Thursday Thoughts
October 30, 2008
Carlton Rider, Principal |
Continuing my remarks concerning our decline
in enrollment by 37 students between last
school year and this school year, I received
some information from our Office of Catholic
Schools and of the 43 elementary schools in
our diocese, Lancaster St. Mary had the
greatest percentage of decline at 7.92.
There were 20 other elementary schools that
experienced decline, which is almost 50%. I
am sure that there are various reasons for
the decline in these other schools but a
couple of things are apparent as I looked
over some of our parish statistics since the
year 2000.
In reviewing baptisms in our parish between
the year 2000 and 2007, I noted that since
the year 2002 there has been an almost
steady decline in baptisms from a high of 84
in 2002 to 58 in 2007. This has had an
effect on our over-all enrollment when you
compare the number of students from St. Mary
parish to those who come from other parishes
or are not Catholic. Between the years 2000
and 2007 we reached a high of 289 students
from St. Mary parish attending our school in
the 2003/2004 school year. That same year
marked the low number of those attending
from other parishes or not Catholic at 129
for a total of 408 students. For the current
school year there are 267 students attending
from St. Mary parish and 163 from other
parishes or not Catholic for a total of 430
students. With an over 10 year high of 467
students during the 2007/2008 school year,
288 students came from St. Mary parish and
179 from other parishes or non-Catholic. As
one studies these figures, a couple things
are apparent: baptisms do have an impact on
enrollment over time and we are becoming, if
have already become, a regionally based
school, drawing from many different areas or
parishes.
In the weeks ahead I’ll share some thoughts
as to what a continued declining enrollment
might have on our school and what we may
need to do if such a situation becomes a
reality.
Don’t forget that parent conferences are
scheduled on November 6th & 7th . Forms were
sent home with report cards listing days and
times.
Our major fundraiser, the Holiday Happening,
will be held Saturday, November 8th from
12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday,
November 9th between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Hope to see you there for one or both days!
Previous Messages:
October 23, 2008
October 16, 2008
October 9, 2008
October 2, 2008
September 25, 2008
September 18, 2008
September 11, 2008
September 4, 2008
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