St. William’s to hold final celebration before school closes

Before the doors close for good at St. William’s School in Lawncrest, current and former students are invited for one final celebration.

In January, the Blue Ribbon Commission recommended the 87-year-old school merge with St. Cecilia’s in Fox Chase – one of my merger and closure recommendations for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Following a successful appeal by St. Cecilia’s, the Fox Chase school will remain open on its own. The St. William’s school building will close as planned, and parents can choose where to send their children instead.

So while some schools in the archdiocese have been celebrating news that they’ve been spared from closure, St. William’s has set aside June 10 for a more bittersweet event.

Anyone who’s ever taught at or attended the school is invited to a noontime mass, followed by an open house. Students and staffers can take a self-guided tour of the school where they can see photos of the parish’s history. A DJ will play music, kids can play in a bouncy castle and everyone can celebrate with refreshments to honor the school.