Andover Townsman, Andover, MA

News

'School's out for summer': Students end year with half day

By Bethany Bray
Staff Writer
Published: June 26, 2008

Kids in Andover are singing the Alice Cooper song "School's Out for Summer" this week, after finishing their last day of school — a half day, with release at 11:45 a.m. on Monday, June 23.

Report cards are handed out to younger students on the last day.

But now, school hallways are empty and silent as students begin two months of summer holiday.

West Elementary fifth-grader Caitlin Patten said the day, her last before middle school, was "kind of sad and happy."

Classmate Jack Harrington agreed, and said he was feeling both "excited and nervous."

Markie Campbell said he was worried about losing his friends who will go to a different middle school than him next year. But he felt ready for middle school because he had "a great teacher," Mr. (E.J.) Perry, who was tough but made lessons fun too, he said.

Andover's last week of school was filled with both fun and seriousness; students in fifth- and eighth-grades celebrated moving up to a new school with graduation ceremonies as younger students ended the year with special activities and celebrations. Andover High School underclassmen took final exams on June 19, 20 and 23, said Principal Peter Anderson, and will be mailed their report cards once grades are tallied.

Elementary and middle school students who didn't attend the last half-day of school will also have to wait by the mailbox for their report card — and the name of the teacher they'll have next year.

Monday's half day, which fulfilled the last few hours of the state's 180-day requirement in a public school year, was filled not with book learning, but learning of a different sort, agreed several principals.

Through the parties, special ceremonies and yearbook signings, students get closure on one year and begin their transition to the next grade level.

"It's important, especially for the fifth-graders. You never forget your elementary school. I went to Sanborn and I still remember my teachers," said West fifth-grade teacher E.J. Perry.

West is the only elementary that splits outgoing fifth-graders between all three middle schools in town, noted Perry. The end-of-the-year activities have been special for him this year, because his daughter, Julia, is a fifth-grader at West and will be headed to middle school next year.

High Plain Elementary School had a special time capsule ceremony on Monday, as they have done on every last day of school since the school first opened. Students dug up a capsule buried five years ago, when fifth-graders were kindergarteners, and buried a new capsule, filled with 2007-08 memorabilia.

"We put a lot into that day. It's a rite of passage, reflection on the year they've had and getting ready for the next year," said Brenda O'Brien, principal. "It's important for both the kids and staff to reflect on their goals from the beginning of year. They can see personal growth and reflect on the work they've accomplished."

Fifth-graders take home a "memory book" on the last day, which contains projects and items completed during their years at High Plain Elementary, she said.

"The final class for fifth-graders was Friday, but they come back on Monday to reflect and tie their elementary career together. Students don't want to miss those special rites of passage, the traditions of school," O'Brien said.

Several schools in town do special activities on the first and last days of school as a transition exercise.

West Elementary's tradition for the fifth grade is a ball activity, where the entire grade level stands in a circle, passing a ball from person to person. The teachers time the students, to see if they can pass it faster on the last day of school than the first.

"It's a celebratory week," said West fifth-grade teacher Erica Saum. "We do culminating activities, building teamwork."

At High Plain, students "clap in" kindergarteners on the first day of school — youngsters line the hallways and applaud as newcomers walk through the school. They "clap out" fifth-graders on the last day, as they leave.

Students at South Elementary did fun, wrap-up games, math games and rounds of "Jeopardy!" in their classrooms on the last day, said Principal Eileen Woods.

Woods said Monday, her last day with students before she retires June 30, was "bittersweet."

"You have mixed emotions when you work for children for 37 years. It's so special. You just can't say yippee!"

After close to four decades as an educator, Woods said her favorite thing on the last day of school is always "the excitement of children transitioning to their summer vacations, moving on to another grade level knowing they've worked hard ... the excitement on their faces as they leave for the summer."

 

 

Leaving their mark: West Elementary students revamp school courtyard, finish final touches on last day of school

Students and parent volunteers at West Elementary have been working as a volunteer "courtyard maintenance crew" this spring, and their hard work is apparent in the maintained paths, benches and green space in the middle of the school.

Thanks to a $5,000 grant from Loew's Home Improvement Center, students and parents have landscaping, trimming, mulching and watering plants in the courtyard over the last few months. Fifth-graders put on the finishing touches the last day of school.

Despite cloudy skies and a light drizzle of rain drips, the fifth-graders hauled wheelbarrows full of mulch from the parking lot to the courtyard, spreading it around pathways and benches.

"You're helping your school, and leaving your mark," said fifth-grader Jack Harrington, as he raked mulch with his classmates. "This is a way of saying goodbye."

They've learned teamwork and cooperation through the courtyard project, several fifth-graders agreed.

Classes often come out to the courtyard on nice days to read, eat lunch, do science lessons at the school's weather station or "just to relax," said fifth-grader Reid Bryant.

"Just to get away from the stress of the classroom," agreed Jack Harrington.

West Assistant Principal Liz Roos noted that families have signed up to "adopt" sections of the courtyard and school grounds to keep up over the summer.

— Bethany Bray

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