St. Alice's closes doors for last time

News of Delaware County By Dan Russo drusso@newsofdelawarecounty.com, STAFF WRITER After 80 years, the 166-student Walnut Street elementary school held its final day of classes Friday. UPPER DARBY - Students, staff and parishoners gave a final farewell to Saint Alice School Friday on its last day. "Kids were sobbing, teachers were sobbing - it was sad," said Principal Sister Mary Barbara Brahl. The community held a Mass June 9, and an honors assembly in the school building as part of its ongoing efforts to say goodbye. There was an 11-member graduating class this year. Many of the 166-student elementary school will attend classes close by next year. "We're working on the records transfer," Brahl said. "The largest majority are going to Saint Laurence." Over its 80-year history, Saint Alice has been a center of learning for the neighborhoods surrounding Walnut Street in Upper Darby. Saint Lucy's school for the visually impaired, also at that location, is slated to be moved to a new place. Many teachers, in particular, were overwhelmed with emotion, according to Brahl. "The kids here are pretty special," she said. Some staff have already located new jobs, and others are still looking, Brahl said. The Philadelphia Archdiocese announced Feb. 13 that the tuition-based school would be closing, citing declining enrollment and financial concerns. Other parochial schools in the same area, called cluster 63 by the Archdiocese, faired better. Saint Katherine Drexel in Chester is remaining open, as is Darby's Blessed Virgin Mary and Lansdowne's Saint Philomena, according to church officials. East Lansdowne's Saint Cyrils of Alexandria successfully raised about $250,000 to keep afloat. Brahl said the Archdiocese has not yet announced its plans for the property the school is on.