Newly merged Catholic school in South Hills gets a new name

Teghan Simonton | Monday, June 8, 2020 2:49 p.m.

Bishop David Zubik speaks during a press conference at the Diocese of Pittsburgh in Downtown on Aug. 14, 2018.

A new Catholic elementary school will be called Ave Maria Academy, the Diocese of Pittsburgh announced Monday.

The new school comes from the merger of St. Anne, St. Bernard, Our Lady of Grace and St. Thomas More schools in the South Hills, which will take place July 1.

The name suggestion came from students, the diocese said. Religion teachers guided fifth- through eighth-grade students to research saints and brainstorm names.

A committee made up of parents from each of the four original schools then submitted final recommendations to Bishop David Zubik, who chose the name.

“It has been exciting to see so many involved in this process,” said Sharon Loughran Brown, regional administrator, said in a statement. “I’d like to thank the current principals, the new administrative team, parents, students and the entire Implementation Team for bringing this project to life. It was truly a collaborative effort.”

The new school will be run out of two campuses at the former St. Bernard and St. Thomas More buildings, at 401 Washington Road and 134 Fort Couch Road, respectively.