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

I have watched my best friend’s children grow up into kind, empathetic, intelligent, curious individuals largely due to this school. Please reconsider. It would be a devastating loss to my dear friends and all that attend.

1982 graduate

Absolutely heartbreaking for the kids and their families. This was only our first year and we felt so welcome. A dedicated and loving staff and such a wonderful parish! Such a shame and at such a terrible time where we are already traumatized. Please reconsider -- we will help in any way possible.

Wonderful school.

Please keep our school!

Please keep this school open! It is so important to these young people and their families!

I've been at AOLP since Pre K 4. It was very sad news that the school was closing. So I wanted to sign because there maybe a chance we can save our school. Please safe AOLP.

As a former teacher, parent and 37 year parishioner of OLP, I feel this is a WRONG Decision and I pray that the diocese reconsider. Parents chose to send their children to AOLP and pay the tuition. The faculty chose to teach there and receive a lesser salary than a public school would offer. AOLP has provided more than a wonderful education for its graduates. I am sure the diocese can come to some resolution and keep AOLP open.

We love OLP

Keep our school open. The students,faculty, and parents love our school. Catholic education needs to survive. This is a great school. You are breaking the hearts of the families and faculty of the Academy. This is not the time to ruin a great school.

AOLP provided high quality educations for decades to multiple students including to myself, my siblings, and my daughter. My mother taught there for years as well. The abrupt decision to close in this manner and during this time not only belies the values we were taught but was done in a way that will cause harm to the members of its community, students, parents, and teachers. Please reconsider and allow the school to remain open into the new school year when dialogue and decision making can be conducted in a thoughtful, Christian way.

We know what a wonderful impact the school has had on our friend’s family and the community and urge the Archdiocese of Newark to reconsider this decision.

We know what a wonderful impact the school has had on our friend’s family and the community and urge the Archdiocese of Newark to reconsider this decision.

We know what a wonderful impact the school has had on our friend’s family and the community and urge the Archdiocese of Newark to reconsider this decision.

Spent 6 years at OLP as a child, and have very fond memories. Closing would be devastating to the teachers, students, and alumni.

Closing the school permanently is not a fair decision, particularly during the pandemic situation. The core reason for the closing ”operational viability” should have been discussed and brought all of us to notice and get our thoughts on how to prevent such a closing situation. There are many brilliant parents in the group we would share our plans and solutions for the problem if we know the issue in advance. We never go with our religious identity but here the circumstance to explain a few things. Even though we are not Parish and Catholic, we feel that Catholic school would teach discipline on top of quality education. Plus paying additional tuition fee for our kids not being Parish. Still we prefer to send our kids to OLP as we experienced that’s the school where the same class teachers take care the kids during the after care within the same building that brings additional peace of mind and good safety for kids. Please reconsider your decision and host a meeting with our parents and the school’s well-wishers we can help whatever means we could. Thanks, Saran & Thenu

Catholic education is the best!!!!

Please reconsider. Great school.

Please keep this open. It’s vital for the community.

Desperate for answers and making sense of this decision I went to the Archdiocese of Newark but only left with questions. https://www.rcan.org/letter-faithful-cardinal-joseph-w-tobin-cssr Cardinal Tobin mentions “a future of flourishing catholic education of the Archdiocese of Newark is clear”. How does the AOLP closing fit in a vision of “Forward in Faith Together: Our road Ahead”? Should we consider ourselves excluded from this vision? What is the road ahead for us, and our children? How are we expected to have a SHARED responsibility for a catholic education with the school closing during a pandemic? Is there no guidance for how to continue an education (let alone a catholic education) the next school year with minimum disruption? What are viable options suitable to working parents? If there truly is a clear vision, there must be a plan than just “hope for the families affected by the closures will continue their children’s education at a nearby Catholic school”. We are "invited" to renew a meaningful commitment to Catholic education in the Archdiocese. I believe that invitation starts with a dialog of understanding the vision, sharing and buying into a plan that we can all support.