RALLY AGAIN TO SAVE BISHOP FORD

Rally #2 to Save Bishop Ford

Sunday, May 18th, 3:00 p.m.

Not willing to let their alma mater close on June 30th without a struggle, several Bishop Ford alumni created a five-year financial plan to keep the school open and presented it to the school's Board of Directors.

The plan called for the school to 

"grow responsibly through tuition, rental income and an engaged fundraising effort with greater contact with our alumni base"

and

"address building repair issues and a focused sales and marketing effort on how we raise enrollment for future classes." 

When the Board met at Holy Name of Jesus Church on Monday, they didn't vote on the  plan because of

"the lack of guaranteed funds that were being brought to the table to ease some of the current debt concerns at the school."

Today, the Save Bishop Ford Foundation Fund began an effort to raise a starter fund through GoFundMe. They intend to show the Board and Bishop DiMarzio that they'll back up their words with financial support.

Alumni have organized a rally for May 18th at the school, a follow-up to the one on April 28th. Follow the progress of plans for the rally on its Facebook page.

Also, sign the petition to "Keep Bishop Ford's Doors Open!" and leave a comment. More than 2,200 people have already signed. The petition is addressed to the Bishop Ford Board of Directors.

STUDENTS AT BISHOP FORD CAN MEET HIGH SCHOOL REPS

Information on Area High Schools

Tuesday, April 29th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Because Bishop Ford High School is shutting down at the end of June, its uprooted freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and incoming freshmen need to find new schools to attend.

For that purpose, representatives from most of the area high schools will meet with parents and students next Tuesday at Bishop Ford for a "High School Information Evening." They will provide information about the programs at their schools, and they will be able to start the enrollment process.

St. Agnes Academic High School (for girls) in College Point, Queens, is one of the schools that will be represented.

Bishop Ford has asked the schools to streamline their application process for its students.

The event will take place in the school gym.

SAVE BISHOP FORD--RALLY AND PETITION

Some people aren't quietly accepting the imminent closure of Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School: aggrieved alumni, distraught parents of current students, and stunned parents who were planning to send their children to the school that their own parents sent them to for a Catholic education. 

Meet for what is shaping up to be a large "Rally to Save Bishop Ford" on Monday, April 28th, at 1:00 p.m., in front of the school. After the rally, everyone will walk over to the Diocese of Brooklyn Office, a block away on Prospect Park West.

Parents and alumni have been communicating with each other on the rally's Facebook event page. Many people are unhappy about the demise of the fifty-two-year-old school, announced just a few days ago without warning, and they have been busy mustering support for the rally. 

An additional way to voice your thoughts is to join the more than 1800 people who have signed a petition to "Keep Bishop Ford's Doors Open!" Leaving comments is encouraged.

SO SAD TO SAY, BISHOP FORD IS CLOSING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 14, 2014 – The Board of Directors of Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School has unanimously voted to close the school at the end of the 2013-2014 academic year. For the past several years, Bishop Ford has experienced significant decline in enrollment. In 2006, Bishop Ford had 1,347 students. Today, that number is 499, a loss of 75% of our student population since 2006. The projected enrollment for next year is 422, a further decrease.

 

Enrollment projections predict further decline in the future. It is with great sadness that the Board of Directors of Bishop Ford Central High School unanimously voted to close the school at the end of the current school year.

 

Thomas Arria, principal, expressed this commitment to the students and their families: "Our greatest concern is for our current students and we are committed to making the transition for them to other schools for the next school year as smooth as possible. To that end, we have asked that other Catholic high schools in the area give special consideration to Bishop Ford students who may be enrolling next school year.  We intend to meet with each family to ensure that students are placed in a school environment which will best meet their academic and personal needs." 

Bishop Ford was founded in 1962 and is proud of its many alumni who have made a difference in service to their communities and to the Catholic Church.

Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School

    1962 - 2014

"THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS IS UPON US"

First Annual "Joy of Christmas"

Saturday, December 14th, 8:00 p.m.

Bishop Ford High School invites all of its neighbors to its first annual "Joy of Christmas." On December 14th at 8:00 p.m., celebrate with other neighborhood residents.  Watch the lighting of the school and enjoy the refreshments and entertainment.

Support Bishop Ford by purchasing a window wreath, Christmas tree, or both from the school. They are selling the wreaths for $30 each and the trees for $100 each. Dedicate them to the memory of, or in honor of, someone or something meaningful to you.

Print the form above, fill it out, and mail it with a check for the appropriate amount to
     Denise Catapano
     Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School
     500 19th Street
     Brooklyn, NY 11215

For more information about the wreaths, the trees, or the "Joy of Christmas," call Denise Catapano at (718) 360-2554 or send an e-mail to her at dcatapano @ bishopfordhs . org.

Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School
500 19th Street
between Prospect Park West and 10th Avenue and between Greenwood Cemetery and the Prospect Expressway
Windsor Terrace
(718) 360-2500
www.bishopfordhs.org  

BISHOP FORD "3" AND "8" REUNION

Bishop Ford "3" and "8" Reunion

Saturday, November 16th, 6:30 p.m. to midnight

Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School's graduating classes of 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008 are having a joint reunion at the school. The cost when registering in advance is $50 per person. At the door, it's $65.

For more information, call Denise Catapano, Class of 2007, at (718) 360-2554, or e-mail her at dcatapano @ bishopfordhs . org.

Post on the reunion's Facebook page to tell your classmates you'll be there, and help spread the word about the reunion wherever you can.

Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School 
500 19th Street 
between Prospect Park West, 10th Avenue, Greenwood Cemetery, and the Prospect Expressway 
Windsor Terrace 
(718) 360-2500  
www.bishopfordhs.org

BISHOP FORD HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

Open House

Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School

Sunday, October 20th, 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

This free open house for prospective parents and students of Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School is the first of three. The other two are scheduled for Thursday, November 7th, from 6:30 to 9:00, and Wednesday, February 5, 2014, also from 6:30 to 9:00.

Tour the facility, accompanied by teachers and current students. Administrators and teachers will answer questions to help you evaluate the programs that the school offers.

Bishop Ford is co-ed. It has 600 students. 

The new principal, Thomas P. Arria, is the subject of a blog post at http://karmabrooklyn.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-principal-at-bishop-ford-high-school.html.

Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School
500 19th Street
between Prospect Park West, 10th Avenue, Greenwood Cemetery, and the Prospect Expressway
Windsor Terrace
(718) 360-2500
admission office: (718) 360-2549
www.bishopfordhs.org

NEW PRINCIPAL AT BISHOP FORD HIGH SCHOOL

Lifelong Massachusetts resident Thomas P. Arria has moved to New York to serve as the principal of Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School. Welcome to Brooklyn!

The sixty-two-year-old was born in Somerville, Massachusetts. He got his bachelor's degree in history from Boston State College, where he minored in secondary education and English. He went on to get his master’s from University of Massachusetts Boston in secondary education, and he got a CAES from Boston College in Catholic school leadership. 

Mr. Arria's first teaching job was in 1974 at St. Anthony School in the Brighton/Allston neighborhoods of Boston. Three months later, he took a position as a teacher at Malden Catholic High School. He worked there from 1974 to 2001: For twelve years, he taught social studies. He occasionally taught English, biology, and religion. He was a department chair, and he was vice principal.for fifteen years.

Next, he spent four years at Pope John XXIII Central High School in Everett, MA. He then became Malden Catholic's first lay headmaster, serving from July 2005 until July 2008, at which time he became the headmaster at Cathedral High School in Boston. In August 2012, Mr. Arria was hired as the principal of Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts. And now he's here!

GOLDEN GLOVES AT BISHOP FORD

Bishop Ford High School will host the Daily News Golden Gloves on Friday, February 15th. Doors will open at 6:45 p.m., with the first bout starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 each and can be bought at the door.

The first night of the tournament was on Wednesday at B.B. King Blues Club. The finals, for the first time ever, won't be held at Madison Square Garden. They're scheduled for Barclays Center on April 18th and 19th.

The oldest boxing tournament in the U.S. for amateurs, the Daily News Golden Gloves is in its 86th year. Bishop Ford has held Golden Gloves events for more than a decade. Bishop Ford High School is at 500 19th Street, between Prospect Park West and 10th Avenue, in Windsor Terrace.

The Daily News Golden Gloves website is at http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/golden-gloves.

DOO-WOP SH-DOOBY OOH-WAH: BISHOP FORD'S DOO-WOP SPECTACULAR

A Doo Wop Spectacular

Saturday, April 13th,7:30 p.m.

Bishop Ford High School's Annual Doo-Wop Show

is a benefit for the school.

ticket price: $35

Purchase tickets by mail, in advance.

Bishop Ford High School

500 19th Street

between Prospect Park West and 10th Avenue

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, New York 11215

ANOTHER COLLECTION TODAY AT BISHOP FORD

Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School is collecting items again today for hurricane victims, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. They are accepting

• cleaning supplies,
• water,
• non-perishable food,
• garbage bags,
• batteries,
• baby wipes,
• toothbrushes,
• tooth paste,
• deodorant, and
• paper towels.

They aren't accepting clothing.

Bishop Ford High School
500 19th Street
between Prospect Park West and 10th Avenue and between Greenwood Cemetery and the Prospect Expressway

 

BISHOP FORD: "NO MORE CLOTHES"

Bishop Ford High School doesn't need any more clothes donated. It still needs cleaning supplies.


Bishop Ford High School
500 19th Street
between Prospect Park West and 10th Avenue and between Greenwood Cemetery and the Prospect Expressway

Call (718) 360-2507 if you have questions.

COLLECTING TODAY AT BISHOP FORD HIGH SCHOOL FOR HURRICANE RELIEF

UPDATE: Bishop Ford High School doesn't need any more clothes donated. It still needs cleaning supplies.


Bring donations for victims of Hurricane Sandy to Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School today, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The collecting location is in front of the gym. Bring these items:

• water,
• clean clothes,
• blankets,
• batteries,
• paper towels,
• baby wipes,
• garbage bags,
• rubber gloves, and
• non-perishable food.

This site is especially in need of cleaning supplies, water, non-perishable food, and boxes to put the items in for transporting them more easily.

Bishop Ford High School is at 500 19th Street, between Prospect Park West and 10th Avenue, between Greenwood Cemetery and the Prospect Expressway. It's the only building on the block.

Call (718) 360-2507 if you have any questions.