Hall County Schools dismissed students for summer break Friday afternoon, however, two of the district’s elementary schools officially closed their doors permanently.
Riverbend and White Sulphur Elementary Schools are set to merge to form Sandra Dunagan Deal Elementary School for the 2024-2025 school year, but staff and students at both schools alike spent the final day of the semester saying “farewell” to their respective buildings and preparing to bring the two communities under one roof.
Riverbend Elementary School opened its doors in 1932. As teachers began packing up classrooms, Lead English Speakers of Other Languages teacher Dawn Hucks shared her emotions leaving the school after teaching there since 1996.
“I see a lot of excitement for summer of course, but it's very bittersweet for students and teachers,” Hucks told AccessWDUN. “ I just feel like there is sadness, of course, for the closing of this wonderful school that's like a family, but also excitement for what's ahead at the new school.”
One teacher decided to commemorate the last day of school in style. Jillian Bell, who teaches third grade at Riverbend, shared with AccessWDUN she will remember her last class at the school with a wearable project her students helped her complete.
“I try to do this every year, on the last day of school,” Bell said. “ I bought a jumpsuit …and then they each painted their hands, and they put their handprint on the jumpsuit, and then wrote their name above it. And then at the top, I put Mrs. Bell, third grade Riverbend, elementary, 2023 to 2024. It's just something to hold on to, that I can treasure forever.”
White Sulphur Elementary School ended the school year in celebration with both its Kindergarten and Fifth Grade graduation ceremonies.
Principal Suzanne Chadwick was in the first group of students to attend White Sulphur in 1972. Chadwick said the last day of the school year not only marks the end of the school's operation, but also marks her retirement after serving as an educator for over 30 years.
“When I woke up this morning, I said ‘wow, this day that I've longed for, for 32 years is here’, and it kind of just took me by surprise, but I'm super excited,” Chadwick said. “… I'm ready to close this chapter of my life and see what awaits. I'm done with this chapter, but I'm not done. So it's definitely bittersweet, but it's an exciting day.”
Among the teachers celebrating the final White Sulphur Kindergarten and 5th grade class was Coach Phil Brooks, who has taught at the school for 14 years. Coach Brooks shared the mixed emotions he’s seen among his students in response to the change.
“Most of them are excited, but then a lot of them are just kinda, I would say almost scared about the change to something new,” Brooks said. “So, you just have to reassure them that everything's going to be alright, and we're going to do the best we can for them and their education.”
Sandra Dunagan Deal Elementary School will officially open for the next school year on August 2, 2024. While the schools will be merging, students will still attend their respective cluster schools at North or East Hall Middle and High Schools.
