Archdiocese nixes plan to move Lansdale Catholic

In the wake of changes to the Catholic schools in the five-county Philadelphia region after findings from a Blue Ribbon Commission that detailed decreasing enrollment coupled with increased expenses, Lansdale Catholic High School will not be moving to a new regional campus in Hilltown Township.

“The financial challenges facing the archdiocese have been clearly communicated in recent months. As part of an effort to improve our financial situation several real estate holdings have recently been sold or marketed for sale,” said Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, who oversees the Office of Catholic Education, in a press release. “Although the new high school will not be built, we are confident that Lansdale Catholic is well poised to continue providing a high-quality Catholic education far into the future at its current location.”

That 68-acre site, at the intersection of Limekiln Pike and Rickert Road and owned by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will now likely be listed for sale, according to officials.

The plan for the new high school had been originally put forward in January 2007.

James Casey, president of Lansdale Catholic, was relieved that the decision was officially announced.

“To be honest that’s why we’d done some things that we did,” he said. Such as a new sign for the campus, new bleachers and gym floor.

“At this stage I’m just grateful for the resolution,” said Casey. “It was out there for so long. We really haven’t been waiting. One way or the other, we have current families to think of and their needs were prioritized.

“I’m kind of hoping with this resolution, any of those alumni who were out there and concerned we were going, when we need them they’ll come Casey said.

Alumnus Henry O’Hara, of Worcester, who graduated from LC in 1974, was pleased. His son also graduated from LC in 2007.

“We’re grateful for all the efforts the people who are interested in Catholic education have made to suggest that the better scenario is to maintain the school in Lansdale,” said O’Hara. “I’m just thrilled. It just never made sense to us to build another school and shut this one down in Lansdale. Lansdale is already there. It’s done a good job. It needs to be cared for and maintained. This decision by the archdiocese, in its current situation, did not surprise me. Maybe people will recognize there is not going to be another school up there ... I’ve known for a while it was not going to happen.”

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“I think it’s very good” that the school will stay put, Denise Carr, a Chalfont parent, said while waiting to pick up her son Tuesday. “I attended here many years ago and my parents graduated from here.”

“I was supposed to come into the new school,” said Maggie O’Connor, 15, a freshman from North Wales. “I was excited but I like it here.” She has a sister at LC and a brother who graduated.

Emily Wernly, 16, of Lansdale, is pleased LC will remain in Lansdale. “I can walk to school and home,” she said. “It’s definitely nice having it here.”

Scott Abt, 16, a junior from Ambler, said that he’s happy the school will stay in Lansdale.

“A lot of kids that go here now would have to go to pub- lic school and would not be able to pronounce their faith publicly without getting in trouble for it,” Abt said. Being able to talk about Catholicism is important to him, he said.

“I like it here,” said Kelly Crowley, 17, a senior from Souderton. “It’s close to my house and Hilltown would be far.”

“I like how small the school is,” said Kathleen Diferdinando, 17, also a senior. “We’re close and a community.”

Crowley agreed with that, saying a new school would be larger and “not as close.”

“And we’d get different teachers,” added Diferdinando, of East Norriton.

Already 150 students have registered for next year’s ninth-grade class, said Casey. Currently, the school has 765 students. There are spaces for freshmen and sophomores,

The Pennsylvania State Police — Troop M, Dublin and Bethlehem, would like to remind the community to be safe during the upcoming holiday.

Halloween may be a fun holiday for kids, but for parents, trick-or-treat time can be a little troublesome. Concerns about children’s safety — whether they are out in the neighborhood or back at home with their goodies — can cast a spell on the evening’s festivities.

Following a few safety tips will ensure that Halloween will be a fun time for all:

• Accompany young children at all times.

• Purchase costumes that are made of flame-retardant he said. If more juniors came at mid-semester they could “squeeze them in,” he said.

Meanwhile, improvements have been made to the existing school, including upgrading technology infrastructure to provide wireless access throughout the school; the renovating of the Resource Center for iPad, iPhone and Netbook use; sound and stage lighting upgrades in the auditorium; and new student lockers on two floors of the original building.

The weight and athletic locker rooms were also refurbished and the main parking lot was repaved. These enhancements were funded by the Office of Catholic Education and the Lansdale Catholic High School alumni, parents and benefactors, officials said. materials that do not obstruct your child’s vision.

• Inspect your children’s candy prior to eating.

• Throw out any loosely wrapped treats.

• Use a flashlight and reflective clothing when trickor-treating.

• Allow your children to carry a cellphone in order to facilitate continual communication.

• Welcome trick-or-treaters at home by turning on your exterior lights.

• Drive slowly all evening, as children will be everywhere.

• Remind kids not to enter a strange house or car.

• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to your local police department.

By keeping Halloween a fun, safe and happy holiday for you and your kids, you’ll look forward to many happy years of Halloween fun.