In April of 2020, amid financial restraints and a global pandemic, the Diocese of Camden announced that Wildwood Catholic High School and Cape Trinity Catholic Elementary School would have to close their doors forever. But the community stepped in, with a refusal to give up and a mission to “Save Wildwood Catholic Academy” throughout the spring.
Parents, students, teachers and community members campaigned for the schools and managed to raise more than $1 million in just a few months. A governing board of trustees was formed and developed a strategic plan that would combine Wildwood Catholic High School and Cape Trinity Catholic Elementary School. With the resolve of the board and the local community, Wildwood Catholic Academy was formed.
The strategic plan for the Academy was presented to the Diocese of Camden, and on June 1, Bishop Dennis Sullivan sent a letter to Father Joseph Wallace, rector of Wildwood Catholic Academy, stating that the diocese had approved the proposal.
Wildwood Catholic Academy opened its doors on July 1, and it continues to enroll new families for the 2020-21 school year.
“At the time of the announcement of the closure of both schools due to the financial hurdles caused by low enrollment numbers coupled by the COVID-19 pandemic, I was initially skeptical of the efforts to raise enough money and bring our enrollment up enough to make it a go,” says Father Wallace. “I was delighted and proud that our Cape May County community was able in an extremely short period of time to raise the needed funds and assure that enrollment was sustainable to open our new Wildwood Catholic Academy. Special thanks goes to Carole Pantalone and Joe Bogle and their army of volunteers and donors for making this all possible.”
Located in Cape May County and just blocks from the beach in North Wildwood, Wildwood Catholic Academy is Southern New Jersey’s first and only Pre-K-12 college preparatory school. (Nearly all Wildwood Catholic High School graduates went on to higher education.)
The school will host a number of extracurricular activities for both lower grades (such as the LEGO Club and Critical Thinking Club) and upper levels (such as Forensic Speaking and the Drama Club). Sports teams are available for all ages as well including, soccer, cross country, basketball, baseball and tennis and more.
Registration for the 2020-21 school year remains open, and as the nation plans to cautiously reopen amid COVID, the Academy announced a schedule beginning Sept. 8, offering all-day, every day, in-person learning with safe social distancing.
“I am looking forward to working alongside the staff and faculty at Wildwood Catholic Academy in opening our doors for the 2020-21 school year,” says principal Joseph Cray. “The schools have had a deep tradition of academic excellence and commitment to community, and our new leadership and energy as the Academy will help students further excel in every aspect.”
Registration information can be found at www.wildwoodcatholicacademy.org.
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