Reader Submission: Family tradition continues because Hubert’s stays open

Jan.6 2012, the moment I had dreaded since I had first heard the rumors, was here. The phone rang and hearing the message brought tears to my eyes. The high school that I had graduated from three years prior and the one that my sisters now go to was going to close.

The Blue Ribbon commission had recommended Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls for closure, along with West Catholic, Conwell-Egan, and Bonner-Prendie. I know how upsetting it was to hear that my school was going to close, and I could only imagine how the families involved in the other schools were feeling. It was heartbreaking to see the looks on the students’ faces and know that they had to think about where they would want to go to school next year. Juniors – like my sister – who were supposed to be looking at colleges, had to start looking at other high schools.

Finally it was Thursday, Feb. 16, the day before it was to be announced whether or not we had won our appeals. It was nerve-wracking to think that in a few short hours we would find out if we were closing for good or staying open. Then the archdiocese made the announcement that we would not be finding out the next day because there was a new possible financial proposition for the archbishop to look over. We had to wait one more week to hear our fate.

To most of us, the week dragged on and we couldn’t wait to hear what was going to happen. After much wait it was finally Friday, the day we had all been waiting for. We wondered if we would hear in the morning or if we would hear anything at all. The archdiocese released a statement saying that the archbishop would be having a press conference at 3 in the afternoon. We were all anxious to hear the fate of the heart of our community. Most of the students stayed at school to hear the announcement surrounded by their friends and beloved faculty members.

Finally, Archbishop Charles Chaput came on and said the words that all of us involved were longing to hear. All four schools would remain open! This meant that everything that the students, alumnae and communities did to save these schools was not just in vain. So many people sacrificed their time and money to keep these schools open and I know the joy they must have been feeling when the announcement was made. I couldn’t watch the press conference so my mom called me at work to tell me. There were tears of joy in my eyes as I was told the news. I am so grateful that my sisters and many other future Bambies will be able to graduate from the same amazing school that I did.

I want to give a huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who was involved in saving these schools. We did it!

Submitted by Rachael M. Fleming of Rhawnurst, Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls Class of 2009