2 Centre County schools are closing. Farewell events offer chance to say goodbye
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- Bellefonte’s school district will host two farewell events for its oldest schools.
- Guests can watch documentaries and tour the schools before they close.
- The new Bellefonte Elementary School will replace them when it opens this fall.
The Bellefonte Area School District will wrap up the 2025-26 academic year by inviting community members to say goodbye to two longtime elementary schools.
The district will host two open houses at its Bellefonte and Benner elementary schools before they officially shut their doors. The closures arrive ahead of the anticipated opening of the new 98,000-square-foot Bellefonte Elementary School along Airport Road, behind Bellefonte’s high school.
Here’s what community members should know about these farewell events.
Bellefonte Elementary Farewell Event
This event, scheduled for 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, invites the public to say goodbye to Bellefonte’s oldest operating elementary school.
The festivities will begin with the screening of a one-hour documentary in the school’s auditorium, according to a flyer posted online. Children in attendance can pass the time with coloring activities.
Starting at 6 p.m., community members are encouraged to walk through the school’s halls and grounds to reminisce before it closes. Retired Bellefonte teacher Steve Klein will lead guided “behind the scenes” tours at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Elsewhere, guests can check out a photo station, browse through free books and potentially purchase a commemorative holiday ornament.
Five food trucks will park on the elementary school’s blacktop to serve snacks. They include Scott’s Roasting, Brazilian Munchies, Miller’s Snow Cones and Snyder’s Concessions, offering pizzas and funnel cakes.
Benner Elementary Farewell Celebration
Another event, scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on Monday, June 1, invites guests to honor Benner Elementary School’s longtime legacy.
The evening will begin with a one-hour video screening celebration “Benner’s rich history, memories and beloved community,” according to an event flyer. Guests can then tour the elementary school and its grounds from 6-7 p.m.
Food trucks, including Snyder’s Concessions, will offer snacks for community members in attendance. A portion of all proceeds will benefit the new Bellefonte Elementary School’s parent teacher organization.
What happens next?
Bellefonte’s school board voted in 2025 to close the Bellefonte and Benner elementary schools and send their students to the new school, which can accommodate roughly 750 students between kindergarten and the fifth grade. For now, the district has not announced plans for the future use of the longtime school buildings.
Work began on the new $55.3 million elementary school in the summer of 2024. The school will feature a wide range of more modern amenities for students, including outdoor learning spaces, a STEM lab and a media center.
The Centre Daily Times is also asking community members to share memories of the longtime elementary schools for the possible inclusion in a future news story.
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