AVONDALE — Parents gathered last week to protest the Archdiocese of Chicago's plans to close St. Hyacinth Basilica School and will continue efforts raise money for the 120-year-old Catholic school in Avondale.
Ald. Ariel Reboyras joined parents, alumni and supporters as they took to the streets in support of the elementary school, 3636 W. Wolfram St., marching from St. Hyacinth to The Eagle monument in Logan Square.
“We’re looking for community support to help keep our school open,” student council president Emily Gost said in a statement. “We know there are people out there that can help us but they need to find out about us first.”
The newly formed anti-closure coalition will host a fundraiser Monday and Wednesday at Marcello’s Father and Son Restaurant, 645 W. North Ave., where 10 percent of everything bought by St. Hyacinth school supporters will be donated to the keep the school open.
A Facebook group for supporters of the school quickly hit 500 followers in early November and has since grown to almost 900. The outpouring of support follows an outpouring of emotion since six school closings were announced, leaving teachers in tears and without answers.
According to school principal Christine Huzenis, St. Hyacinth, which has an enrollment of less than 200, cannot support itself financially, even with the assistance of the archdiocese, which educates more than 82,000 Chicago area children in 240 elementary and high schools.
Students at St. Hyacinth began brainstorming ideas to help keep the school open immediately after hearing of the plan to close back on Oct. 29, according to a press release. Social justice has been a theme this year in the middle school classrooms.
Parents are currently faced with a big decision as supporters continue a letter-writing campaign and an online fundraiser to rally support.
“St. Hyacinth is not just a school, it’s a family,” said Gloria Finnelly, a phrase reminiscent of another set of recent school closures in Chicago. “I chose Catholic education for my girls, but not just any Catholic school. This is the school for us,” the mother of two St. Hyacinth students said in a statement.
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