CRANBERRY TWP — Students arriving at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School this morning were met with a surprise greeting.

Bishop David Zubik stood inside the student entrance to the new school to shake hands and greet the students as they entered the new building for the first day of classes.

The building on Route 228 replaces the North Catholic High School that was in Pittsburgh since 1939.

“It’s a historic day for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. This has been in the works for decades, we were finally able to build a school in the fastest growing area, not only in the region, but the whole commonwealth,” Zubik said.

“I wanted to welcome the students to let them know I’m happy to be here for something big they’re a part of.”

Enrollment at the school is 286, said The Rev. Charles Bober, the school’s president.

Though classes have started, that number could grow, Bober said.

“It’s a transient area. There might be people moving here, so we will still be accepting applications in the first couple of weeks,” he said.

With the first bell scheduled to ring at 7:50 a.m. most students arrived between 7:30 and 8 a.m. After greeting the bishop, teachers and administrators told the students to go to the cafeteria to receive homeroom assignments.

The junior and senior classes are composed mostly of students who attended the school last year in Pittsburgh.

The freshman and sophomore classes are larger and are made up of mostly students who are new to the school.

One classroom wing of the $70 million school has been left vacant for now, and it will be finished if enrollment increases.

The building will have the capacity for 1,000 students.