Philadelphia Archdiocese Students Try 'Shadow Days' To Pick New Schools
By Michelle Durham
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- With the impending closures of a number of Catholic grade schools and high schools in our area (see related story), affected students and their families are now taking a look at their options.
One of the tools being offered to those students is "shadow days" -- allowing them to spend the day at another school they may want to attend.
Nazareth Academy High School in Northeast Philadelphia (photo above) is just one of many in the area that will be accepting students from schools that are closing -- in this case, girls from Conwell Egan and St. Hubert's.
Claire Marie Rossi is a Nazareth sophomore who took a St. Hubert's student under her wing for a "shadow" day.
"We followed my schedule for the day," Rossi (right) tells KYW Newsradio. "First we went to physical science with Dr. Fisher, then we went to theatre arts class with Mrs. Greco, then we went to my honors English class. Then we had lunch."
Rossi said her shadow did well in class and hopes to come to Nazareth next year.
What does the current student body think about the new girls coming in?
"Everyone here is really welcoming," Rossi says, "and we all have such a great time here. It's really like a family. I've met some of my closest friends here -- they are probably going to be bridesmaids in my wedding."