St. Elizabeth Parish School has been in the Altadena community since 1919 and has seen thousands of Altadena and Pasadena children graduate from its school. The school has always been a diverse and open community that offers children the space to be themselves. 

Due to the Eaton Fire that has affected both current and former students of the school, many of whom are the parents of current students, the school has been closed and undergone extensive cleaning. During this time the Department of Catholic Schools has taken over communications and decision making while allowing little to no space for current parents, the principal, Dr. Cremer, teachers and staff to have input on how they would like to move forward as a community.

The lack of incorporating community members must end. On June 10th, the Department of Catholic Schools sent out a letter stating that St. Elizabeth will not open next year but made no statement or commitment on how they will ensure that St. Elizabeth will open again in the future. We are advocating for there to be more transparency, accountability and collaboration for alumni, teachers, former parents, community members and parishioners to ensure that the school does reopen. In the letter it states, “We remain focused on rebuilding the St. Elizabeth parish and school. Examining the needs of our families, parishioners, and the neighborhood will be essential to our rebuilding efforts”. We are not arguing about the school’s closure for the next academic year but we are here to guarantee the Department of Catholic Schools make right on their promise to rebuild St. Elizabeth Parish School and include the community in the process.

We demand: 

• A detailed action plan for how the community will begin rebuilding the parish school, including marketing, fundraising, and enrollment strategies. 
• Funds to be put aside for maintaining the buildings and outdoor areas so they are in working order for the return of students. 
• A committee of parishioners, alumni, neighbors, former teachers, and parents to be included in the process of rebuilding in partnership with the Department of Catholic Schools.

St. Elizabeth means too much to too many people for the Department of Catholic Schools to not consider our voices in the reopening of our school. Through private donations, GoFundMe drives, and the St. Elizabeth Website Donation Fund, we have raised over 100,000 dollars. It is clear we care about this community and we need to make it known directly to the Department of Catholic Schools that we are united in protecting the last standing Catholic school in Altadena. We need to unite together now to ensure we have a community to go back to. 

Please consider signing our petition and email the Department of Catholic Schools (schoolinfo@la-archdiocese.org) about the importance of St. Elizabeth School to the community and the need for our voices to be heard in the decision making process. Together we can show them how much St. Elizabeth means to us all.

- Concerned Alumni of St. Elizabeth School