Results of the Meeting: (Thank you to those that forwarded these "minutes of the meeting" to me.)
1.) The organizers spoke to Sister Ellen and Sister Patricia...the Sisters LOVE Notre Dame and our children...THEY WANT TO STAY!
Petitions and letters ARE having an impact...redouble the effort. Over 500 signatures have been collected and that's only the petitions that have been turned in!!!!
"Hit them where it hurts": Collections and Archbishop Annual Appeal...place empty envelopes in collections with a note explaining that the money won't be given until the Sisters are reinstated, our "administrator" is replaced and our concerns addressed.
Start Phone Calls to Archdiocese...can be very effective (Names & #'s are forthcoming!)
"Positive" Rally to Support Notre Dame and the Sisters (with lots of media attention) on 3/25
2.) Father Sheehan does not have the best interests of our children at heart. He cannot be Notre Dame's "administrator". He is extremely unresponsive to parents. A new administrator is needed.
3.) Several positive comments were made about how Father Armando is honest and straightforward. Would he make a good "administrator"? (But how will he handle his vested interest in his "own little school" at Saint Nicholas? How can you support TWO schools when only one can survive?)
4.) Lots of questions that Father Sheehan won't answer. How can parents registrar their children with so many questions that are unanswered? Registration date is coming up too quickly...it should be extended. If we don't registrar our children "until we get answers"...will the Church make other drastic cuts to Notre Dame?
5.) Questions/Comments were made about Ridgefield Board of Ed. Several Board of Ed. members are parishioners at Saint Matthews, so they have a conflict of interest. The rental price was noted as $500,000...but why does Cliffside Park rent its Catholic school for only 100K/150K?
6.) Need to be able to "reach out" to more parents. Should we create an e-mail list or even better can we have a "class mother" for each classroom to create/call a "phone web" for that classroom?
So, keep sending those letters and signing the petitions. Tell everyone you know.
29 comments:
Are any of you aware that Sister Ellen has asked that the "fighting and petitioning and badmouthing and blaming" STOP! She would like to finish out the school year with as much peace and dignity as possible. As much as I respect your passion, have any of you considered that this continuous talk of "conspiracy, wrongdoing and deceipt" is only going to further reduce current enrollment. Again, I urge all of you to focus on getting the answers necessary for you to make a decision about your children: 1) status of new principle 2) status of consolidation and retrofit 3) status of registration and enrollment. These questions deserve to be answered and are worth fighting for. Reinstating the sisters and replacing Father Sheehan simply are a waste of your valuable time! Even though I empathize with your plight, you will not change the archdiocese's mind in this regard! The Catholic church is still dominated by male priests and nuns have never been treated as equals. As horrible as that sounds in 2007 - that's the reality of the church we support. Fight for the answers you need and make a decision on behalf of your children.
Has Sister Ellen or Sister Patricia suppossedly said this to ANYONE other than the Home School Board?
Because as a parent who is VERY involved in this, "plight" as you call it I have not heard that message out of either of their mouths. They have never encouraged the parents to to anything. But they have also never asked people to stop. They honestly have no control over what a group of parents do. In saying that, I would respect the wishes of both Sisters, IF THEY ASKED.
My guess is that Father Sheehan has asked the Home School Board members (by the way who are also on the Church Board) to stop . Not Sister Ellen.
Further, I would guess that the quantity of calls and letters to the archdiocese and media has put a tremendous amount of pressure on Father Sheehan to do the right thing and answer the questions and concerns of the parents .
It is not a useless "plight". For whatever issues anyone might have had over the last 15+ years with the nuns... It is UNACCEPTABLE that they be treated in the manner that they were. It sets a poor example of Christian values for our children.
It is personal, not just a staff change. If it was performance then why do the nuns have such huge support ?
yeah yeah I heard she said to stop..... probably pressure from those above: BUT IT IS DISGRACEFUL to sit back and watch as these actions are thrust upon us as we are to watch and wait until we hear of a new principal coming from GOD knows where to set the future of Notre Dame straight. As a consumer of the product namely the education from this said system I NEED MORE INFO prior to enrolling for the next year. Oh and for those that call us anonymous lame perhaps we do not want a google/Blogger account :)
I speak to Sister Patricia & Sister Ellen about twice a week. They are EXTREMELY upset over being fired. They love their jobs and the children they work with. WE have their FULL support...they want to stay with Notre Dame.
If there is no Sister Patricia/Sister Ellen, then there is NO Notre Dame for my family.
I would urge those concerned about the school and the Sisters to attend this meeting tomorrow night. It will not be a long meeting.
I have heard a few people mention that they were not interested in ANOTHER meeting....my only comment to you is, the Sisters have opened their mouths and fought for our children and our school. They have paid for it with their jobs and home.
I think THEY are worth fighting for.
In saying that, I would never disrespect the wishes of Sister Ellen or Sister Patricia. I agree that both Sisters should hold their heads high and be proud of the jobs that they do, now and in the future.
When we all work together, there is always a chance for positive change.
I do not think anything is impossible.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Guido
Thank you to the parents who planned the meeting this evening. I agree, The Sisters are worth the fight.
It is a shame that the Home School Board ladies can't see that. The school is so much the Sisters and their staff.
And I do agree, with the statement about put your money where your mouth is.
The 3 ladies representing the Home School should step down. Once again they talked in circles and tried to drive the gathering down a dead end street.
Count on my family to be at the rally as well as obtaining full petitions.
James P.
I wasn't at the meeting, but I got a call when it was done. I, too, agree that the Sisters are worth the fight. I've sent my letters and signing up people on the petition too.
I like the idea of removing Father Sheehan and replacing him with Father Armando (if he was interested.) But I too am concerned about the Learning Center at St. Nicholas...they are draining children from Notre Dame. Father Sheehan has to go...his lack of involvment, evasivness to the parents and firing of the nuns is unacceptable.
There are many people who believe that the Sisters as well as the school are worth the fight. I came home to many emails from supportive parents, as well as many parents reaching out to the cause yesterday and this morning at school.
Several parents has donated supplies to make signs for the rally. The sisters do have our support. And we all support the future of Notre Dame.
Please get your petitions signed , call the ArchDiocese and write letters. Working together ,it can make a difference.
Christine Guido
I am disturbed that our Home School Board does not share the same dismay in reguard to the termination of the Sisters. Were they not hand picked by the Sisters for this job? Or maybe it was Father Sheehan who picked them ,as they also sit on the Church Board .Their support seemed to lie with Fr. Sheehan and Fr. Armando. I agree that there needs to be a common direction and focus within the parent group. Everytime one of the three Board members spoke, we were down the "dead end road".
We all have questions, we all want Fr. Sheehan to respond to us. And we have all stated these things again and again and again.
What are they willing to do to help????
My family will be at the Rally and will have more petitions signed as well. Mrs. Guido has my contact information. I will also help pay for signs and necessary items for the planned rally.
We're in the BERGEN NEWS...again! Check it out 2/28 edition.
A great letter supporting Notre Dame and the Sisters!
Since Father Sheehan and Newark won't address our concerns, I think we should make our situation EVEN MORE public! We should write "open letters" and/or create newspaper ads. I will be willing to donate some $ to help buy some advertisements proclaiming our challenges with Father Sheehan/Newark.
I agree with the comments states by "thegodfather". We need to move forward. We are wasting time. We need to work in a positive direction going "forward".
We need to work on making the school in the current situation, the best school we can going forward, with or without the current administration. We need to work towards - the status of a new principle, status of consolidation and retrofit, and "making sure" we register, and enroll new students. With all the noise we are making, this is NOT going to grow our NEW enrollment. They are going to look towards other schools. We are NOT moving forward, we are focusing on the NEGATIVE, and NOT the positive.
People who support the Godfather are wasting their time on this blog. If you agree with the godfather then you have nothing to worry about. You will have your small Notre Dame school up and ready with someone as its administrator (who will do wahtever father says)...you will get exactly what you want...that is what Father has said. You will have your "new" classrooms and everything that concerns you will be addressed. So you have no worries. Enrollment will not grow. Notre Dame lost 60 families last year with Father's decision to threaten to close the school. With the closure of the Ridgefield building...many more families will drop out. If you lose the Sisters...even more families will drop out. So Notre Dame will be a nice tiny school with lots of room, and a "wonderful" new adminstrator who will lead the school to exactly where Father Sheehan wants it...into the ground.
Based on parking lot talk...there will be very few back unless something changes.
I can't stay either based on Father Sheehan being involved. Just goes to show how important the school and the students in it are to him. A letter is his answer to everything.
Sorry, FATHER SHEEHAN MY FAMILY IS MORE THAN A DOLLAR SIGN!
Has it occurred to anyone that by not returning next year, we are:
1. Letting him win....this was IMHO absolutely a two prong plan with the administrative change being one and the lack of information and low enrollment as a result being 2. There may be a reason that no plans have been submitted to PalPk as mentioned at the meeting. He is betting that he will not need it and as the popular opinion is going, he is absolutely correct.
2. Dismantling the legacy of the sisters regardless of whether or not they return. Sad to say, after 20 years of their hard work, there may not be a school to show for it.
3. Basically saying that Notre Dame is not worth $200. If everyone regardless of whether or not you actually plan on returning, just sent in their $200, I am sure Father would be shocked as I said before I am sure that he is counting on a further reduction in enrollment to eliminate the need for any substantial work on the building. If you sent in your $200 then you would be making a statement. I think he would be shocked if there are close to the same number of students for next year. And THAT would make him scramble because THAT would be something he would not be thinking WE WERE CAPABLE OF PUTTING TOGETHER.
He would have to act based upon the numbers since May would be too late to get the building done by September. THAT IS YOUR STATEMENT SEND YOUR MONEY, SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL, MAKE A UNITIED FRONT. Show that Notre Dame and the Sisters are worth $200 of your money. SHOW THE ARCHDIOCESE THAT NOTRE DAME WILL NOT SIT DOWN AND DIE. Regardless of your intentions come May, now is the time to act.
This handful of godfather agree-ers...you claim that you want what is best for Notre Dame and that you are SO concerned about the retro-fit and enrollment challenges. You have known about the closure/move to Palisades Park since last October.
Where was your concern when the closure was announced?
Where was YOUR website about helping Notre Dame?
Where were YOUR articles in the newspapers?
Where were YOUR meetings?
Where were YOUR letters to the Archbishop and Bishop?
Where were YOUR phone calls to Newark?
Where were YOUR petitions?
Where was YOUR concern back in October?
This fight is NOT just about a building...this is about a tradition...I love Notre Dame because of the way it is run by Sister Patricia & Sister Ellen. They have done a great job...the OUTRAGE came because of their removal...because they spoke up about THEIR concerns for YOUR children. They have built a great school...even YOU don't trust Father Sheehan and his decisions (which is why you are here)...yet you "just go along with all his decisions".
On another topic...I understand what the poster means in regards to registration. But without the Sisters, Notre Dame will NOT be the Notre Dame we all know. The Sisters, for the last 20 years have "set the tone"....they set the foundation for the wonderful staff and our children. Yes...there is a chance that the next person will be "good"...but the odds are against it because of WHO will be choosing the candidate and WHO will be controlling the candidate. Do you really think some "newbie" is going to EVER "stick up for the right thing"...if Father Sheehan doesn't agree with the newbie? The newbie knows father FIRED the last prinicpal...what would prevent father from doing it again?
It is sad, but by the tone of the division among the posters here themselves, as one parent put it at the first meeting.... We will truly be our own demise. We will have no one to blame but ourselves because we didn't care enough to stop debating and dividing and present a united front. Now is the time to present a united front or clearly those in the parishes and the archdiocese who want the school closed will win. Don't let that happen. Or THEY will win. THEY are counting on it. Remember the Blog name HELPING NOTRE DAME SCHOOL
Mr Godfather
Can you tell me what the draws to this New Notre Dame are since I am having trouble seeing them clearly after receiving the latest letter from Fr. Sheehan. I can easily see the attraction with the two campuses one strong school and firmly believe if given a chance the school can once again thrive BUT with these changes cannot see the attraction for this school as it is proposed to stand. clare
Here's some advise for those of you still struggling with the plight of Notre Dame. There are currently 3 groups of parents: 1) the group that has already decided to leave 2) the group who has already decided to stay and 3) the group that has yet to decide. With respect to those who have already decided to leave Notre Dame - BEST WISHES! You have every right to leave and who could blame you. With respect to those who have decided to stay - BEST WISHES! Demand answers from Father Sheehan and the archdiocese on status of new principle, status of consolidation and retrofit and status on future school commitment. GET INVOLVED! Don't just write blogs. Be an active parent in Notre Dame. And with respect to those who have yet to decide - BEST WISHES! Get the answers you deserve and need to make the best decision for you and your children. If you are satisfied with those answers, then maybe you will stay. If not, you might decide to leave and again who could blame you. My comments were never intended to support Father Sheehan or slight the nuns. The reality is that(for good or bad) this decision will not be reversed! Was it made with respect to the nuns and parents - ABSOLUTELY NOT! Those who want to fight for the nuns reinstatement have every right to do so. But those who only want to make the best decision for their children also have every right and should not be criticized for doing so. I do find it strange that those of you who have already decided to leave Notre Dame would continue to blog this site at all! Blog the site of your new school! Many parents who I speak to are very unhappy and very upset but they want the school to continue on. Do not confuse their willingness to continue on with support of the church or non-support for the sisters. Blaming the priests, blaming the nuns, blaming the archdiocese, blaming the HSA - DO NOT ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING. If you feel the need to blame something then blame: 1) the decreased size of our catholic commumity in the last 5-10 years 2) the lack of cooperation and support between the church and Notre Dame 3) our community's support of public schools and non-support of private schools and 4) the scandals in the catholic church draining resources that previously helped fund catholic education. These are BIG ISSUES that will not be resolved overnight. Please remember that the HSA and many parents fought for 3-6 months last year to prevent the consolidation. They were successful in keeping Notre Dame at two locations for one more year. There was never any discussion of "CLOSING NOTRE DAME". This was strictly a financial decision made by the archdiocese. Many other schools in our area have closed completely. Last year, while these parents were meeting with: 1)the archdiocese 2) Notre Dame parents 3)the korean community 4) the sisters and 5) the pastors in an effort to save the school - WHERE WERE YOU? Every parent was invited and if you chose not to participate - then shame on you for being critical toward those who at least tried. They learned a lesson - you can't fight an institution like the archdiocese and catholic church and expect to win. But make no mistake - THEY DID TRY! Again, if you feel the new Notre Dame has nothing to offer you or your kids then BEST WISHES and GODSPEED. Who could blame you? But if you still believe that Notre Dame is the right choose for your kids - THEN REGISTER!
A person can fight a lion and WIN.
Don't register your children and Fr. Sheehan has won. People are forgetting the legacy of Sister Ellen and Sister Patricia and the great faculty. Other schools are not accredited. ND is. Some parents visited St. Francis and Our Lady of Libera, and they said they can't compare to Notre Dame. Register your child in support of ND, the administrators and teachers. I heard that the faculty is fighting behind the scenes. They have been told to make no comments to the media, and Fr. Sheehan has already told them that he signs their checks. A threat? Sounds that way to me. We don't want to lose the faculty, too. So register your children, pay the fee. If the school closes, they have to give it back. We want ND to thrive despite Father Sheehan. We need to rid our school of this money hungry, and vengeful person. Register!!!!!
I would NOT encourage anyone to registrar their child. The principal of a school MAKES a school. A great principal inspires the teachers (and students). The principal sets the tone for what is expected. I have worked as a public school secretary for a number of years. I have worked for 4 principals during the last few years. The first was a man who ran the school like a dictator. Teachers hated it and left or didn't go "above and beyond." This man literally destroyed the spirit of the school. The second man was a very good man, but because so few people trusted him (because of the previous principal) he had a hard time...things started to improve but then he retired. The third man didn't ever want to be bothered...so the "recovering" spirit of the school died again. Our current principal has truly changed the school around...it took 2 years but he reached out to the teachers and changed a lot of things for the better...he took care of all the teachers concerns (do you really think the new Notre Dame Principal is going to care about what concerns the teachers? Keep dreaming)...our teacher turnover rate has finally slowed and a new spirit is growing...but sorry to say I know he will be retiring in 3 or 4 more years. People in public school don't have a choice, but as a parent paying for a private school...you do. But in this case (without sister Patricia/Ellen)...you don't. You have all admitted that you don't trust Father Sheehan...so why would you trust the person he picks to lead Notre Dame? With the new principal...how much new staff will you end up with? In reality, it doesn't matter (too much) if parents get along with the principal...but the staff has too. If the staff doesn't support the principal...the school will fail. Why would the staff support a principal (chosen by FAther) and who will only fight for what FAther wants? Yes, you may want Notre Dame to survive...but because of the change in principals...the school's culture will change. Because of HOW the change is happening...the cultural change will be negative. It is not a good idea to register your children...not unless the Sisters are reinstated. Head to a Catholic school with a principal with a proven track record.
A number of people are saying to registrar their child so "Father doesn't win"...IF you DO registrar your child he has won. He gets exactly what he wants...currently he got everything he wants. He got rid of Notre Dame from his property, he gets the temporary income from renting the school and he fired (and destroyed the lives) of the two sisters he hates. Father has won...by registering your child you are just supporting his "victory"...his decisions...you are saying everything that he is doing is right. Once you register...you have no "bargining chip"...you lose all say. Some may say father wants to close Notre Dame and that will be his "final victory" and you don't want that...but with father in charge...Notre Dame is doomed. It won't happen this year or next...but when father wants to get rid of the school he will..because people follow him blindly...you say you don't support him...but you do exactly what he wants...he wants you to goto one building...you go...he wants to fire the nuns...you agree/or do nothing. So when he decides to shut the other building...again you will do nothing. Registering your child only supports father. Don't registrar your child unless father reinstates the nuns...stop following him like sheep to the slaughter.
There was a letter in the Bergen News in support of the Sisters on 3/14.
I find it interesting that when Father Sheehan wants an advertise in the paper there is plenty of money to buy a nice big ad (Bergen News)...but when the sisters asked for money to advertise...there was none.
I must admit that I am concerned about Notre Dame. I went to go look at Notre Dame for my 3 year old. I took the tour with Sister Ellen. I found her very helpful. Later in the afternoon, I had some more questions...since the school was closed, one of my friends (and a parent of a ND child) told me to call Father Sheehan. So I called and spoke to him.
He truly has NO CLUE about what is going on with the renovations...he could not answer any of my questions...he was telling me things that didn't make sense or contradicted Sister Ellen...when I explained what Sister had told me...HE TOLD ME TO LISTEN TO SISTER BECAUSE SHE KNEW MORE AND WAS AWARE OF THE SPECIFIC CHANGES!!!! How can a priest that is so incompetent be in charge of a school? What is going to happen when the Sisters leave?
In response to Anonymous, remember he fired Sister Ellen who is more intelligent and knowledge than he is, so where is the logic behind their firing. I can guarantee that at Wednesday's meeting he will not take any questions addressing the Sisters firings. He just hates them.
Father Sheehan has an agenda for Wednesday nights meeting, and it doesn't include answering any questions about the Sisters firings. People should really let him have it concerning the treatment of these two women.
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