Burrell's Stewart Elementary celebrates its last day: 'It's bittersweet'

Mindy Larko may or may not have cried on her way to work Wednesday.

It would mark her last day teaching at Lower Burrell’s Stewart Elementary in Room 14, a room where she, herself, was a student during the 1982-83 school year.

“A lot of memories come back when you’re teaching in the same room you went to fifth grade in,” Larko said. “I grew up here, and I loved all my teachers — there’s not one I didn’t like. I’ve subbed elsewhere … but I don’t know if it’s something about it being my hometown; there’s nothing like it here.”

A Lower Burrell educational institution for nearly a century, Stewart Elementary School’s last day for students was Wednesday.

The school board decided in October to close Stewart at the end of the school year because of costly infrastructure upgrades and declining enrollment within the Burrell School District.

Fourth graders will now attend Bon Air Elementary, and fifth graders will go to Charles A. Huston Middle School.

“It has been a super fun year getting to know all the kids, teachers, parents and staff members,” Principal Autumn Turk said. “We’ve shared a lot of fun memories, learned a lot, and are thankful for the time we had together.”

Like a family

Paula Faybik’s 29-year teaching career has all been at Stewart. She’s been a fourth grade teacher for 24 of those years and will teach at Bon Air next year.

“Stewart has been a part of my life for so long,” she said. “It’s sad to leave, but in the same regard, you have to move with the times and the changes. I’ll be ready for it.”

One of the things that makes Stewart special, Faybik said, is that it housed just fourth and fifth graders.

“It’s like its own entity in the district,” Faybik said. “It feels very much like a family school because it is so small.”

For long-term substitute Cody Wolfe, Stewart really was like a family.

His grandfather, Dale Wolfe, was in one of the first classes at Stewart; his sister, Jessica Horwatt, is the PTA president. Her daughter, Rylee Horwatt, was a student this past year in Wolfe’s class.

Cody Wolfe, himself, attended Stewart from 2001 to 2006, when it was a K-5 building.

“We get to go out on a cool note,” he said. “It’s bittersweet for me. I love this school.”

As Larko cleaned up her classroom, she came across a grading scale and a cursive writing worksheet left behind by her fifth grade teacher, Mr. Sorisio.

While there were too many memories to count, Larko recalled last week’s Science Olympiad when she went up on a Lower Burrell Fire Company 3 bucket and got an aerial view of the school. That was nostalgic and exciting, she said.

Students react

Current Stewart students recalled the Science Olympiad, field days and other special school events as their favorite memories.

The Kids For Kids holiday market was fifth grader Merilee Maskas’ favorite memory of the school. There, students created, developed or brought in crafts to “sell” to each other, but the money wound up being donated to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Over the past five years, students donated about $15,500 to the hospital.

Kids for Kids is also a proud memory of Stewart for secretary Diana Dohmen.

“That really stands out for me. It’s a nice thing for kids to do for other kids, and they’re excited for it.”

Merilee, 11, said she’s excited to attend middle school next year. Being part of the last class in Stewart history wasn’t lost on her.

“There’s so many people I know that went to this school,” she said.

Casen Ritter, 11, agreed.

“It’s cool we get to be the last fifth grade class on the last day,” Casen said.

“I will remember all the fun times and all the fun days. The school is so old because some of the people that went here and taught here aren’t here anymore.”

The future

The last day was the best day for student Evelyn Giordano-Malloy, 11. She’s excited to attend middle school next year where her mother, Gina, is a teacher.

But Evelyn also remembers the past: her grandfather, Dominic, was a teacher at Stewart.

“I will always remember meeting my class and teachers,” she said of Stewart.

Burrell officials have taken steps to ensure a smooth transition for students, faculty and staff whether they’re going to Bon Air or Huston next year, said Turk, who will return to her other position, director of curriculum and development.

“It’ll be great to have all of our elementary students and staff in one building,” Turk said. “Fifth grade is really excited about being at the middle school and the new adventure that awaits them. Honestly, all of fourth and fifth grade are excited about going to the middle school.”

The incoming fifth and sixth graders coming up to Huston together will make the transition smoother, Turk said. A move-up day helped students know what to expect next year, she said.

Arianna Wilson, 10, will be part of the fifth grade class that will go to Huston Middle School next year.

She’s nervous for it, she said: “It’ll be a new experience.”

“I’m going to miss all the teachers, and I’m going to miss this school,” she said.

Stewart’s character

Even for staff that didn’t attend Stewart, they still feel a connection to the school.

“It’s small — it’s only two grade levels. It’s a family,” said Dohmen, who is from New Kensington.

“It was sad for me. I look back at the memories, and they’re happy memories. It’s sad to see a school close, but it opens up a new chapter.”

Dohmen started her career with Burrell as a secretary at Bon Air for 14 years, before taking the same position at Stewart for the past 13 years. She’ll be going back to Bon Air — in the same desk and chair, she said — next year.

“At first, I did not want to leave Bon Air,” Dohmen said, “and now, I don’t want to leave here.”

Custodian Tony Ferracano grew up in Shaler and graduated from Penn Hills, but Burrell quickly became a new home when he took on the job about a dozen years ago. He’ll remember the character of the school.

“The fourth and fifth graders are fun to be around; they’re always laughing, always smiling,” he said. “There’s something about this school — it’s different, it’s not modernized. It has its own character.

“I’m going to miss this place, but it’s a good move what they’re doing. It’s old.”