Keep The Academy of Our Lady of Peace, New Providence Open

Please !!

This is a foolish move. The people who send there children will.not be driving an extra 30 mins . They will put there children in a different closer school or just send to private. The church is not naive if they think otherwise. They have a chance to teach values and maybe keep children interested in church. Prayers out there for the chidren,parents and staff.

Please keep this wonderful school open!

As an alumna and supporter of OLP, I am appalled by the Archdiocese's abrupt decision to shut the school and the heartless lack of advance communication regarding the decision. I fully support this petition for all the reasons the authors thoughtfully and reasonably detail.

Very sad to see that the archdiocese would make this decision. It creates an additional hardship on families who have chosen a Catholic education over public schooling.

As the grandparents of a graduate of AOLP, my husband and I witnessed the academic and spiritual growth of our grandson. It is a testament to the Academy that he has such a deep love for his faith. He continues to be actively involved in BOLD. His education at AOLP has enabled him to be an exceptional writer and lover of history. I would imagine this is true for most of the students. Please reconsider the decision to close this uniquely powerful resource for students and their families.

Please keep the school open! ❤️

My daughter has been teaching at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace for eleven years. With all the turmoil in the Catholic Church, I would think that everything possible would be done to promote Catholic education and show our faith in a positive, beautiful light. These children are our future and the future of our Church. AOLP has provided a quality, academically excellent, value based and nurturing environment for students for the past 65 years. What a disgrace for the Archdiocese of Newark to pull the rug out from under them in such a cold way during a pandemic and right at the end of the academic year. This shows absolutely no consideration for staff, families, and most importantly for the students who will be uprooted and expected to begin at a totally unfamiliar school in September where they will possibly have to utilize online learning with unfamiliar teachers in a totally new environment. What about the seventh graders who have only one year to complete? That is the worst possible age to be when you are thrust into a new school where teachers are unknown and there are no familiar peers for support. The families are in chaos... under good conditions this would be an emotional, time consuming process to relocate their children.... in a pandemic, it’s unthinkable. Also, the loyal staff of AOLP who have given so much to the school besides teaching, have gone above and beyond to support all school functions and to help to make the ACADEMY such an integral part of the New Providence community. The greater Academy community has always shown tremendous support for the school both personally and financially. Now the Archdiocese is simply and coldly closing the doors to the school on very short notice at the end of the school year without considering any help that the amazing parents and staff and community are so willingly trying to provide to keep that from happening. This is not the Catholic faith that I was raised to know. This is a disgrace. As a retired teacher

AOLP is a great school with amazing faculty. Please keep it open.

Please keep this wonderful school open. The Catholic education is a very valuable and necessary commodity for our youth. Schools are closing at an alarming rate. Please reconsider this decision

“With the Love of The Holy Spirit & The Blessings of Our Lord and Savior—Dear God, Please Keep The Academy Of Our Lady Of Peace, Open!”

I met some amazing people in my experience going to school here. I hope that many future generations will have the same opportunity.

I switched my daughter from public school to AOLP for a safer environment. A big part of my decision was due to the Diirector. By the time we started in fall, he moved on as Principal of a Catholic HS. We decided to stay. I am so happy that we did. The experience there for a 7th/8th grade teenager is the yr that so many parents lose their kids. I know because of what I've witnessed other families endure in public schools. My daughter had very successful spiritual and educational growth at AOLP and continued on at an excellent Catholic HS, as did most of her AOLP classmates. AOLP has a great reputation and it would be a shame to see that go away.

Let the community help. Please stay open. I was looking to enroll my two kids this coming year.

It is reprehensible that, at this historic time in our history, the Archdiocese would choose to close Our Lady Queen of Peace School. ( or any schools for that matter) we are in turbulent times, our children are affected in ways we cannot know. This is a time when I am drawing on my faith more than ever, as are most Catholics. It’s what we were told. To take this comfortable environment away, is beyond understanding. The Catholic Church has had many expenditures, I will not go into what they have been, as it has been obvious. To close schools because of lack of funds seems hypocritical. Our granddaughter was to attend kindergarten there in September. She was excited to be part of this warm and welcoming community. How do we explain, to these children, that a loving God would let this happen. I hope this decision will be reversed.

Keep this fantastic school open!

Save this school it’s the Best!!!

We just want a chance to help.

Three years ago our Catholic School closed. The Principal, Faculty, Staff and Students of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace welcomed the families with open arms helping us through a difficult transition in a loving, supportive way. I was fortunate to get a job as a teacher at AOLP and be with my three children. Less than one year later, our youngest daughter passed away after a fight with liver disease. The AOLP Community surrounded us with love and support every day which helped us through this devastating time in our lives. Now when we all need this support more than ever, you are closing a school with an amazing Principal, teachers, staff and students during a Pandemic. Where is the compassion? Please use the model of love and support at AOLP to consider our request to keep the school open for everyone involved.

PLEASE STOP CLOSING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS!