Catholic Schools Collaborating on the North Shore

Recently North Shore schools in the Archdiocese of Boston gathered in anticipation of Catholic Schools Week, which is January 27–February 2. Each year all North Shore Catholic schools are invited to meet at one school to create a collaborative ½-page advertisement that goes into North Shore newspapers. The ad includes a photo of selected students and the names of all the schools with open house information for Catholic Schools Week and the spring semester.

Principals recruit two students from their school for the photo, and each year the photo is taken in a different parish or school. This year the photo was taken at St. Pius V School in Lynn.

The North Shore schools have done this for approximately 10 years. It began with the North Shore principals in the elementary schools and expanded to include St. Mary's High School in Lynn and Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody about five years ago.

Since then, Cecile McCarthy, from the advancement office at Bishop Fenwick, and Maureen Kelleher, principal of St. John the Baptist in Peabody, facilitate this joint effort. Maureen Kelleher said, “We feel that our schools are stronger together. Collectively, we are sharing the great news, opportunities and achievements of what Catholic education means to our students. We are able to share that message to a larger audience more effectively with our shared resources.”

She continued, “Many families who visit our school mention that they have seen the ad, which runs in the Lynn Item and the Salem News. We feel it is worth our investment and that it is one of the reasons that families seek out our schools.”

Schools participating in this year’s collaboration are:
Saint Pius V School, Lynn
Saint Mary High School, Lynn
Bishop Fenwick High School, Peabody
Saint John the Baptist School, Peabody
The Saints Academy, Beverly
St. Mary School, Danvers
Our Lady of Assumption School, Lynnfield
Sacred Heart School, Lynn
Immaculate Conception School, Revere