Classroom parties, award ceremonies, hugs, tears and goodbyes marked the last day of school on Thursday across Killeen ISD.
For three schools the last day of school held special significance as the final last day after decades of service.
Peebles Elementary School, Eastern Hills Middle School and Palo Alto Middle School ended their final years with the close of the school term.
At Eastern Hills, family members joined educators and other supporters during the school’s final eighth grade celebration.
Two guest speakers, a former student now teaching high school in another community and a former teacher and longtime KISD administrator provided motivation and encouragement to the departing students and staff members.
The loudest applause was reserved for the final speaker, Eastern Hills Dean of Students Bob Burns, an 18-year Eastern Hills administrator who grew emotional as he gave final remarks.
He began thanking parents, students and school staff members for completing the challenging final year of the school.
Burns recalled a simple moment that occurred early in the school year when an eighth-grader he knew well asked him if he was going to stay at Eastern Hills through the final school year. The administrator assured the student he was not going anywhere, and the moment was validation and encouragement to continue.
“Thank you for reminding us (about) presence, loyalty and heart,” he said to that student. “No matter what life throws at you, no matter where your journey takes you, you keep going, you keep pushing forward and believe in yourself.”
Mason Deleon, a former Eastern Hills student said middle school is like a practice, so if you make mistakes, you can recover and make different choices in the future.
“You won’t remember the building or the school,” he said, “you will remember the people.”
Tina Cole, executive director of human resources for KISD, said “a change in location doesn’t change your destination.”
She reminded students and staff members that the time at Eastern Hills has been a chapter and that there are more chapters to come. “This is not the end of your story.”
At Peebles Elementary School, students said farewell to each other and their teachers and dismissed with the rest of KISD two hours early to begin summer break.
Following dismissal, Principal Shakira Bodon-Ramos gathered staff members in the cafeteria to share a meal and to open presents she provided.
She thanked her staff members for working hard to the end of the school year, a challenging and emotional one as Peebles closes after 65 years of service.
Third-grade teacher Alma Zavala finished her 18th year teaching, all at Peebles.
“Today is bittersweet. It’s exciting to have a summer break, but we know we’re leaving Peebles,” she said, explaining that school years are always difficult to finish because people leave.
This time, though, everyone is leaving. “It really and truly is the end of an era,” said Zavala.
“The staff has always been supportive and kind. The kids are amazing with so much ahead of them. We try to get them to understand that anything is possible. It’s a wonderful task that we have.”
Photos: www.killeenisd.org/photos