POCATELLO -- Amid the bustle of excited chattering children, the local community bid farewell to Washington Elementary School during a final assembly Wednesday afternoon.
Generations of families, former alumni, teachers and staff walked the school's historic halls and classrooms one final time, reflecting on over 100 years of memories and paying respects to a school that was so meaningful in their lives.
"Washington's 100 years of excellence isn't simply about its legacy of nurturing exemplary learners, but its legacy of producing exemplary people," said Dakota Bates, a local resident who has been instrumental in his advocacy of the school. "Even though the doors of Washington will close tomorrow, this legacy of excellence will continue long into the future as we live the values that we learned here -- compassion, determination and respect for all."
Bates continued, "Last November, I told the trustees of our district that for many parents, Washington has felt like an extension of our homes. That is only true because of the love, kindness and goodness of all of you, the excellent teachers and staff of this great school. On behalf of all parents and alumni, thank you and (thank you) to those that came before you for giving us a place where we have truly felt we belong."
That feeling of family and belonging was reflected in the watchful, teary eyes of nearly every current and former teacher and staff member in attendance and among the enthusiastic, curious gaze of the children who sat assembled on the grass near the steps of their school.
As generations of children did nearly 100 years ago, the assembly first began with a performance of the national anthem and the pledge of allegiance led by a pair of Washington Elementary students. The theme of the celebration was 'If Washington could speak' and several children were honored for their contributions and essays that reflected what the school might say or feel about its last 100 years.
Ellie Ryan along with Trissa and Ryan Cameron, members of a group that advocated for Washington Elementary to remain open, Read the essays out loud in front of the audience. The essays and inspired poems spoke upon the storied history of the school. The top three winners, as voted on by the advocacy group, received a small cash award along with a candy bar.
The third-place essay by Emily Metcalf spoke upon the school's ups and downs, the memories made there and the many transformations over the years that Washington Elementary went through. Emily's reflections touched on the dreams of the students, the principals and teachers that passed through its corridors and the friendships created and lost by teachers and students alike.
The second-place essay by Benson Lusk discussed how the school admired the kids who spent countless hours playing, learning, being quiet and rambunctious over the last 100 years.
The essay of Nora Alexander was the final one read that afternoon and was perhaps the most reflective and poetic. The words, as dictated aloud by Trissa Ryan, said the school would miss the laughter of the children playing on its grounds, kids playing tag or the maypole spinning 'round, or it might share some jokes it picked up on the way or some of the old but still fun games to play.
"If Washington could give its information to the world, think of what secrets would be unfurled," Ryan read. "Washington would probably say, I do need a break for lots of feet on my floor is a great weight to take. I wonder what will happen when I close down, maybe I will be a museum for our lovely town. It might also say I have had about 100 birthdays and I hope to have 100 more. But don't you worry, I can stand more feet on my floor. Washington was happy to give us a hand by holding positive posters so our spirit would still stand. Washington's words would be valuable no doubt, that is what this paper is all about. So sadly we say farewell to our dear school that above all the others would certainly rule. Also, I think Washington would tearily reply, goodbye, dear students and teachers, goodbye."
The assembled students were then treated to sweet ice cream on the other side of the school before local architect Jerry Myers shared the detailed and immersive history of Washington Elementary.
According to Myers, the school first opened its doors to 500 students in 1922 before climbing to 600 the next year. At its apex in the late 1940s it saw as many as 700. In addition to the detailed history, Myers also spoke about the importance of valuing such an important community fixture. Myers tasked the listeners to be good stewards, to continue to help build and revitalize the community by not only being inventive with new ideas but by preserving the past to understand who we are as a community.
During the course of the afternoon, the former alumni, teachers, staff and the countless individuals that attended the school were thanked by many of the speakers for what they had accomplished.
LeAnne Dutton, a former Washington student and member of the advocacy group, rounded out the speakers at the assembly, reading her ode to Washington.
This heartfelt farewell speech celebrated the closing of Washington Elementary School in Pocatello after 104 years of service. Dutton is a fourth generation graduate of the school whose family has attended Washington for decades, including her own grandchildren who currently attend.
Dutton's speech lovingly recollected those halcyon moments, the shared, collective memories that connected generations of students. Dutton shared the many historical moments the school witnessed, stretching from the great depression into the modern era.
Thanks to the compassionate educators at Washington, countless children processed difficult world events and those educators provided them with a sense of security and safety in a turbulent world, Dutton said. She then thanked a few of her former teachers who imparted important lessons along with their modern counterparts who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of their learners.
Dutton emphasized that while this chapter of Washington Elementary is closing, its story has not been concluded and its legacy lives on through the thousands of alumni and the hundreds of current students that will carry on its distinguished lineage.
"Your fingerprints are all over the future in ways you'll never see," Dutton said. "When you walk out of this building one last time, know this, you made a difference. You mattered and you always will. Thank you for believing in students who didn't yet believe in themselves, for being a safe place, for teaching more than what was in the curriculum -- like resilience, respect, empathy, grace and effort. Here's to Washington's next chapter."