Dear Members of the New York Nativity Community:
Earlier this year the Board of Trustees for each of the three schools that comprise New York Nativity -- Brooklyn Jesuit Prep (BJP), Nativity Mission Center (NMC), and St. Ignatius School (SIS) - communicated news of the dire financial situation facing the schools and indicated that the schools were at risk of ceasing operations in June 2013.
The Board is happy to announce today that fundraising efforts by trustees, staff, supporters and friends will enable New York Nativity to continue operations. The middle school program at St. Ignatius School will open with a full complement of students in September. Graduate support programs will continue at St. Ignatius School and Nativity Mission Center.
Brooklyn Jesuit Prep will be separating from New York Nativity as of June 30, 2013. Brooklyn Jesuit Prep will continue to be a sponsored school of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus. Friends and supporters of BJP have raised the funds necessary for the middle school program to open in September. Mrs. Patricia Gauvey has been named as President of BJP for the 2013-14 academic year. Brian Chap will continue to serve as the Principal of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep. Pat and Brian can be contacted for further information or to offer support for Brooklyn Jesuit Prep.
There will be significant changes coming to New York Nativity over the next few months as we continue to examine our mission and how we can best serve the underserved in New York City. First, Dr. Michael Yazurlo will not be returning as President for the 2013-14 academic year. We thank Dr. Yazurlo for his time with New York Nativity and wish him good luck in his future endeavors. Mrs. Eavan O'Driscoll will be serving as interim president of New York Nativity, effective July 1, 2013. A search for a permanent president will begin shortly. Second, Rich Darrell will be succeeding John Omnerik as Principal of St. Ignatius School, effective July 1, 2013. We are grateful to Mr. Omnerik for his service to our school and wish him success as he heads home to California. Finally, the Nativity offices and staff will be moving from the 2nd Avenue location up to space at St. Ignatius School in Hunts Point at the end of July.
The Board is grateful to all who have assisted us through these difficult days and asks for your continued support and prayers as we focus on "breaking the cycle" of poverty in New York City.
On behalf of New York Nativity,
Timothy McGovern, Chair
Daniel Dougherty, Vice Chair
The New York Nativity schools have provided a pathway to success for countless deserving children since the first school was founded over forty years ago. BJP and SIS, Nativity model middle schools educating over 300 under-served boys and girls in Crown Heights and Hunts Point, respectively, provide rigorous middle school academic programs, with an extended school day and year, summer leadership camps and financial and educational support for alumni in high school. NMC provides after school educational support and financial aid for young men who graduated from the middle school NMC previously operated on Manhattan's Lower East Side. The families of students who attend New York Nativity's schools are asked to pay a modest tuition but over 90% of the school's operating revenue comes from charitable donations.
Contact Timothy McGovern, Chair, by email at: nynativityboard@gmail.com
