To His Excellency the Most Reverend Bishop of Wilmington:

W. Francis Malooly,

First, it is with deepest sympathy that I offer my condolences and prayers for
the recent and untimely loss of the great Bishop Michael Saltarelli. A man I had
the pleasure of meeting on several occasions and admired for his passion, loyalty,
and kindness to all he encountered. He will be sorely missed by so many. I
apologize for introducing a troublesome issue during this trying time but find
that, due to the limited amount of time granted us, I could not forestall my
writing.

A very distressing situation has come to my attention regarding the Sts. Peter
& Paul High School in Easton, Maryland. A rush of e-mails and messages have been
inundating me from all sides with varying reports that seem to surround the
potential closing of the high school due to a lack of funds. Being an alumni from
this illustrious institution, I have taken it upon myself to plead with you and
the Diocese to please not allow such a thing to occur. Sts. Peter & Paul High
School means so much to so many, both personally and financially. It is an
irreplaceable source of support for the community and provides a service that is
immensely important to most of the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

My own relationship with Sts. Peter & Paul begins at birth, for I was baptized
in the Church on Goldsboro Street. I then attended pre-school and traveled on up
the ladder to the sixth grade before financial problems forced me to leave for
public education. After a variety of re-locations, moving from state to state,
and finally returning to Easton I entered Easton High School as a freshman ninth
grader. Suffering from a mild learning disability in mathematics, I was coerced
into attending “special” classes that I later discovered wouldn’t even allow me to
graduate with an actual diploma but instead a “Certificate of Attendance,” like I
was incapable of normal intelligence. Not to mention a continuous suffering at
the hands of undisciplined, seemingly insane, and thoroughly irresponsible young
adults who had no apparent interest in education or a desire for a successful
life. Upon discovering this, I quickly re-entered the ninth grade at Sts. Peter &
Paul High School, knowing that at least there I would stand a chance of having a
quality education free from the petty, useless, and often violent distractions so
predominant in the public school system.

At SSPP I instantly found friends and discovered that high school didn’t have
to be a chore but something I could enjoy. I was successful in my classes, taking
pride in my school work and showing the community my uniform. The SSPP uniform is
as unmistakable and meaningful today as it was ten years ago. I still have my
high school skirt, and even one of my plaid jumpers from elementary school.
Attending a school that has actual values is more meaningful that words can really
describe.

Before I knew it my Senior year was upon me and I delighted in the freedom and
prestige it offered. Wearing the brightly colored stockings and enjoying the
special tag days and events. Being a senior brings a whole new meaning to life at
that age. However, in February of 2003 I was to experience one of the worst
events of my life. I was to undergo a routine surgery to have my gall-bladder
removed due to the development of stones which caused me immense discomfort. The
surgery was to take place on a Friday and I was to return to school on Monday so
as not to miss out on any of my classes. The surgery was thought to have gone
well and I returned to school bright and early on Monday morning, feeling that all
was normal. Unfortunately that was not the case. By lunch-time I was feeling
distinctly ill; nauseous, with chills and a developing pain in my abdomen told me
all was not well…but due perhaps to my stubborn nature I went to math class
anyway.
 Shortly after the bell rang, however, I was overcome with a heated sensation
and a sharp, burning pain in my belly and excused myself to the restroom where I
promptly collapsed. Shivering and convulsing on the floor of the senior bathroom
I was the most frightened I’ve ever been. It was a terrifying feeling…but I kept
my eyes on the cross that hangs above the door and prayed that someone would find
me.

Mr. Samiec, a devoted and kind teacher of mathematics, had noticed my strange
appearance and after only a few minutes sent someone to come check on me. When I
heard the knock on the door all I could do was cry out, I have no idea what I
said, but the next moment the door was forced open and there stood Mr. Samiec, Mr.
Nemeth, Mrs. Hovland, and Allison my classmate. Mr. Nemeth, a large man, was able
to lift me to my feet and assist me into a chair in the office while he contacted
my mother and the secretary brought me a cup of water.

Long story short I was admitted to the hospital and after a full week of tests
was taken back into surgery for emergency exploration and repair of my liver. I
spent weeks in the hospital, bed-ridden and unable to eat solid foods due to the
temporary malfunctioning of my digestive system. When I was finally released from
the hospital I spent an additional three weeks recovering at home under heavy
medication due to the pain of a nine inch incision in my abdomen and a number of
tubes protruding. Eventually I returned to school, still bearing a tube and pouch
assembly which I wrapped to my stomach and unable to wear the standard school
uniform due to the continued healing of my incisions.

It’s not every day that a student misses nine weeks of school less than three
months from graduating, and the situation was fraught with complications. Mr.
James Nemeth, the principal, was concerned that I would be unable to graduate with
the rest of my class due to the enormous amount of work I had missed. I was never
the best student, but was determined and remarkably intelligent and asked if there
was anything that could be done. Mr. Nemeth set up a meeting with all of my
teachers and we worked out a detailed plan to make up the missing work and to
maintain current work without over-straining myself. For weeks I worked the
hardest I had ever done at school, and by the grace of God managed to fulfill all
the graduation requirements. In May I walked across the stage with the rest of my
classmates and received what I viewed as the most well-earned High School Diploma
ever.

I went on to attend a fantastic college in North Carolina where I earned a

Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology. Without Sts. Peter and Paul and the dedicated,
caring, hard-working and generous teachers and administration I doubt very much I
would have ever have had the opportunity. The only available public school in
this county is Easton High, and having experienced it for a single year I am
thoroughly convinced that had the situation developed there I would have been
forced into summer school and possibly haven’t have graduated for another year;
losing my scholarships and grants to Barton College in the process. That is, of
course, if Barton College would have even looked at me had I been attending Easton
High instead of SSPP.

I know, Sir, that you are a busy man with a great deal on your plate; but
Saints Peter and Paul High School is not something that can be lost. Here is a
fact that might assist you in your decision: On the social networking site,
Facebook, a group was created to spread the word and organize ideas and support
for SSPP High School. In forty-eight hours it had over 300 members…in just four
days it has now more than 500. The importance of this high school cannot really
be expressed in words, and I urge you to come on October 22nd at 7:00pm to our
Church and see the number of people who have already said they would be there. We
all wish to save out Alma Mater. It’s not a question or a doubt. We want and
hope and pray that Saints Peter and Paul High School will be saved for future
generations.

Thank You.

Sincerely Yours,

Rebecca A. Burrows
Saints Peter and Paul Alumnus