Latest news with #NataliaMacri
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘No communication': Parents shocked by Sydney school's sudden closure
Parents have been left blindsided by a decision to shut a northern beaches Catholic primary school to make way for a secondary school's new year 5 and 6 'junior' campus. The Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay, which stretches from the north shore to the Central Coast, announced on Wednesday drastic changes to 13 schools, including closing St Cecilia's primary school at Balgowlah and merging it with St Kieran's at Manly Vale. St Cecilia's, established almost a century ago, will be turned into a new year 5 and 6 campus for St Paul's Catholic College, a formerly all-boys high school at Manly that transitioned to co-education this year. The 138 children enrolled at St Cecilia's have been offered places at St Kieran's, which also has under 200 students, but parents have been given a little more than a fortnight to confirm if they will accept the transfer. Parent Natalia Macri said she chose St Cecilia's for her kindergarten daughter for its small size and proximity to her home that allowed her to walk her daughter to and from school. 'We were shocked,' Macri said. 'There was no communication this could be happening, and now we feel cornered into making a really fast decision about what to do next year.' In a letter to parents on Wednesday, the diocese also announced it would merge St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School in Northbridge with St Thomas' Catholic Primary School in Willoughby. It is also considering merging two upper north shore primary schools into a new kindergarten to year 12 school. Parents were invited to an 'important strategic update' meeting on Tuesday night, with no context about its agenda. They were played a short video informing them of the decision to close the school, said Melissa Donnelly, whose children attend St Cecilia's. Donnelly said the audience was taken aback by the decision.
The Age
7 days ago
- General
- The Age
‘No communication': Parents shocked by Sydney school's sudden closure
Parents have been left blindsided by a decision to shut a northern beaches Catholic primary school to make way for a secondary school's new year 5 and 6 'junior' campus. The Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay, which stretches from the north shore to the Central Coast, announced on Wednesday drastic changes to 13 schools, including closing St Cecilia's primary school at Balgowlah and merging it with St Kieran's at Manly Vale. St Cecilia's, established almost a century ago, will be turned into a new year 5 and 6 campus for St Paul's Catholic College, a formerly all-boys high school at Manly that transitioned to co-education this year. The 138 children enrolled at St Cecilia's have been offered places at St Kieran's, which also has under 200 students, but parents have been given a little more than a fortnight to confirm if they will accept the transfer. Parent Natalia Macri said she chose St Cecilia's for her kindergarten daughter for its small size and proximity to her home that allowed her to walk her daughter to and from school. 'We were shocked,' Macri said. 'There was no communication this could be happening, and now we feel cornered into making a really fast decision about what to do next year.' In a letter to parents on Wednesday, the diocese also announced it would merge St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School in Northbridge with St Thomas' Catholic Primary School in Willoughby. It is also considering merging two upper north shore primary schools into a new kindergarten to year 12 school. Parents were invited to an 'important strategic update' meeting on Tuesday night, with no context about its agenda. They were played a short video informing them of the decision to close the school, said Melissa Donnelly, whose children attend St Cecilia's. Donnelly said the audience was taken aback by the decision.
