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Hope, and ultimately action, came through a miraculous coincidence. As Notre Dame
was closing so was another school, a small public school in the community of
Newfield. The Newfield Board of Education decided to send their public school
children to a neighboring district because there were not enough community children
to justify the cost of operating the school. Since one of the Notre Dame campuses was
located in Newfield and since several Newfield town leaders had close affiliations
with Notre Dame, the town leaders decided to approach the leaders of Notre Dame and
ask if it would be possible to move Notre Dame to the soon to be vacant Edgarton
Memorial School and reopen it as a new school. Within one week of the announced
closing of Notre Dame Regional School, the decision to move to Edgarton was
secretly made and a committee was quietly convened to accomplish the task. The
surreptitious efforts were necessary for a short period of time since concurrently the
same Notre Dame School leaders were preparing for a meeting with the Diocese to
present a plan of action designed to keep Notre Dame open. Hope was strong on two very different fronts with a
single objective: Come September 2013, there would be a school of faith for the families of Notre Dame thus
perpetuating the caring culture that is so valued.

While the Notre Dame Regional School Board of Education members prepared a plan to present to the Diocesan
leaders that was designed to keep Notre Dame open, and while they gathered donated funds to support that plan, the
same Board laid the foundation for the new school to open in Newfield. Within two weeks of the announced closing,
Edgarton Christian Academy (ECA) was viable and poised for inception in the event that the Diocese denied the
plea to reverse their decision. Finally on Wednesday, February, 15, 2012, the Diocese informed the committee of
Notre Dame Board members who met with them that the decision to close NDRS was final and would not be
reversed. The announcement that the Diocese turned down the plan to reconsider their decision and that we had been
quietly planning the alternative plan of moving to Edgarton was made that night at Burger King Night, a monthly
school function designed to build a sense of community, to the cheers of hundreds of parents and students. Parents
committed to attend this new school immediately. The joy, relief, and hope of the families were overwhelming.

While much was accomplished and poised for the launching of ECA prior to the Diocesan meeting, in the weeks
following the February 15th meeting preparations for the new school took on new energy. A flurry of activities,
meetings, and planning sessions finalized the development and organization of the new school. The energy of this
quiet effort was empowering. Within 4 weeks of the closing announcement the Board of Trustees for Edgarton
Christian Academy was convened, incorporation papers were filed, and the new school was registered with the New
Jersey State Department of Education. A rudimentary budget was proposed. The initial Edgarton website was built.
Uniforms were designed. The school logo was created. The lease for the school building was in negotiation.
Advertising and marketing materials were planned and drafts were offered for approval. Student registration
packets were printed. A contact phone number for the new school was purchased so that potential families could call
for information. A recruitment committee of parents was convened to handle enrollment and registration. The first
public gathering to announce the opening of the school was arranged. All was in readiness.

“Edgarton Christian Academy has been a second home for our two children for the
past seven years. The atmosphere at the school is very welcoming and nurturing. Dr.
Alimenti and her staff have been caring and accommodating to our family. The
dedicated teachers work hard to make sure that all of the students succeed. We have
watched our children grow both academically and socially. When they graduate
from Edgarton, we are confident that they will be prepared for the future.”

Scott and Stephanie Bolton,
parents of Elizabeth & Emma