Tens of thousands of students have walked out of St. Bartholomew School in Penn Hills over the past 63 years.

The last 120 exited Friday morning, as St. Bart's — established to serve Penn Hills' mushrooming population in the 1950s — shuttered its doors for the final time.

“I loved it,” fifth-grader Elijah Remis said. “We go to church every Thursday and there are kind kids there. The teachers don't give us much work. It's just a really fun school. I'm sad. (I'm going to miss) my friends.”

Elijah said his class watched a movie and had a prayer service Friday.

He and his father, Tony Remis, moved from Penn Hills to Plum last year.

Remis, who wore a bright yellow shirt with the words “St. Bart's Pride” on it, said he hoped to keep Elijah at the school through eighth grade, but now he will go to Holiday Park Elementary.

“I'm in shock,” Remis said. “We were just notified two weeks ago (about the closure). Right now, we're focusing on the children and the staff. This school has been a blessing for my son.

“My boy was the shyest boy you've ever met since preschool,” Remis continued. “Who he is right now, he can conquer the world because of what the staff has taught him. He has learned how to achieve many things in life because of this school.”

Teachers received balloons, flowers and tears from students and parents. The school's website lists 15 teachers and an office worker on staff.

Staff at dismissal deferred comment to the diocese.

“Every teacher that we've had was so compassionate and treated my baby as if they were hers,” Shadaya Hall of Penn Hills said. “Academically, she is just great. We're just hoping for the same experience at our next school, St. Bernadette (in Monroeville).

“It's a sad day. We could have been better prepared. Too many tears out here. It could have been done a different way.”

Hall's daughter, Lauren Nancy, 7, was in first grade. Lauren said she loves learning and is excited to start her new school.

Tina Bucci served as St. Bart's principal for the past six months.

“It has been my privilege to serve the students as their principal at St. Bartholomew School for the short time I was there,” she said. “I will miss each and every student. I wish them well at their new schools. I will continue to pray for them and their families as they make this transition.”

Bishop David Zubik granted the school closure request from St. Bartholomew's parish administrator, the Rev. Edward Wichman, last month and announced the closure May 20.

Wichman cited low enrollment, high per-pupil costs, rising tuition and an increased parish subsidy for school operations as reasons to close the school, the diocese stated.

About 120 students were enrolled this year in preschool through eighth grade. The school had 136 students last year, and 305 students in 2001-02.

Adrienne Merryman Guerke of Penn Hills waited for dismissal with her daughter, Sydney Guerke, 4, who had a “We'll Miss St. Bart's!” sign.

Her other daughter, Addison, just completed first grade.

“I hope that all of the families will get as much fulfillment wherever they go as we did here at St. Bart's,” Guerke said.

Addison, 6, will start next school year at St. Bernadette.

“I think it's going to be fun,” she said.

Zubik wrote in a letter to Wichman that the Extra Mile Foundation, which provided subsidies to St. Bart's to provide a Catholic education to urban students, will continue to help those students at other regional schools.

Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-871-2367, mdivittorio@tribweb.com or via Twitter at @MikeJdiVittorio.

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