Visitors to York Catholic’s Battle of the Buildings Saturday would have never felt the bittersweet feeling that almost certainly was hiding under all the laughter and fun of the evening.

The night was one of competition between teams of Catholic school teachers throughout York County, and another team of York Catholic High School students. Next year, there will be one less school because of consolidation.

From the York Dispatch–

Citing financial challenges in the past several years, the Diocese of Harrisburg announced on Saturday, Jan. 26, that two York County Catholic schools will consolidate at the end of the 2018-19 school year.

St. Joseph School-Dallastown and St. Patrick School will become one school, after consulting with and gaining permission from Bishop William Gainer, according to the diocese’s release. 

The new combined school, York Catholic Elementary, will open in the current St. Patrick School building at 235 S. Beaver St. in York City in August, according to the release.

But on Saturday everyone cheered for their school and their teachers meeting in a relay race or two, and laughable contests involved M&Ms, cotton balls and scooting across the gym floor on a carpet square.

For even more photos of the Battle, check here for York Dispatch photographer Dawn J. Sagert’s fabulous gallery.