The end of the school year in Williamstown has a special poignancy this June, as children and teachers bid farewell to the old school buildings and prepare to enter the new, $14.5 million state of the art building in the fall. On Friday, children, teachers, administrators, parents, former students and townspeople thronged together for a farewell bash in the old school’s Sylvester-Flagg gymnasium, where a band played rousingly for enthusiastic dancers, and speakers took turns describing their memories.
In the cafeteria, judges wearing tall, white chefs’ hats tasted entries in the cake contest.
Most spectacular of all was the cake designed by the culinary arts students at Charles H. McCann Technical School in the shape of the new school on Church Street, bricks, turret, gables and all.
The winner was kindergartner Zavi Sheldon, who drew a picture of the present school that was copied as the top of a cake. A cakely rendition of the coming demolition of Grant and Mitchell schools was submitted by the family of Gregory and Mary Shine - a pile of chocolate crumbs beside a toy bulldozer.
Judges, who tasted carefully before making their selection, were Darra Goldstein, Paul Lovegreen, Marvin Gangemi, Jane Allen and Mindy Hackner.
Principal David Rempell recalled that on his arrival as principal, “somebody came up to me and asked, ‘have you gone up to the ghost floor yet?’â€
That, Rempell learned, was the legend surrounding the third floor of Southworth, then unused for classes.
“’There are ghosts there,’†Rempell’s informant assured him. But Rempell said that when he did explore the top floor, “all I saw were boxes. Absolutely no people because nobody went up there. I can tell you I didn’t find any ghosts. That was my first experience at the Williamstown Elementary Schools.
“I promise you there will not be any ghosts at the new school,†he said.
Parent Deborah Burns said, “Our family’s favorite room in the building is the Renzi Room (where) our kids performed in plays and concerts. We’ll miss it. It’s a humble room, but that was a time for growing and learning.â€
Veteran sixth-grade teacher Richard Steege contrasted Then with Now: horse-drawn carriages vs. SUVs; Hornbooks vs. Palm Pilots; trolleys vs. Dufour and the “B†bus; lunch in a pail vs. microwaveable luncheables, and Victorian homes vs. the school of the future.
The evening concluded with the premiere of the sixth-grade’s film about the schools, funded by an Olmstead grant.
Earlier last week, several third- and fourth-graders talked to a visitor about their favorite memories of the old buildings.
“I’ve always loved this school,†said third-grader Kate Costley. “And I’ll miss the loft in the library. It’s a nice place to go and read.â€
“But I’ll be excited to go to the new school,†said Kate.
Jessi Payton, a fourth-grader, said “I like doing plays in the Renzi Room,†where she portrayed a witch, Lady MacBeth and MacBeth in Shakespeare’s play.
Jessi agreed with Kate. “Yeah, I will miss the old school, but it’ll be fun to be in the new school,†she said.
Nate Nurmi, fourth-grader, will miss Kids’ World, already demolished for safety concerns, but a fondly-remembered instance of communal effort.
“I always played Capture the Flag,†Nate said.
Nicholas Krant, a fourth-grader, is also going to miss the Renzi Room, where he performed in his first play, MacBeth, and his first concert, playing cello.
“I’m looking forward to the new school,†said Nate. “It looks very nice from outside. I’m anxious to see my new classroom. I hear it’s larger than these.â€
Lanea Baum, a fourth-grader, will miss Kids’ World most, “because my step-dad helped build it.â€
“I think the new building is going to be fun,†said Lanea.
Alyssa Tomkowicz, a third-grader, will also miss the Renzi Room, where she performed in the play The Summer I Shrank My Grandmother, the loft in the library, and the gym.
“In the new gym, we can’t bring in beverages,†she said.
They all agreed that they will create new memories in the new school.
Librarian Susan Hyde, who has been at Williamstown Elementary for 17 years, said “I’m only looking forward to the new building.â€
“For 17 years, the library has been next to the music room,†said Hyde.
The new library, she said with some relief, will have no loft, a place she had to monitor closely and control access, for safety’s sake.
“We’re going to have the tower with a window seat, and a seating well for story time,†she said. “Everything will be low so you can see straight across.â€
In the old school, she said, “books about dinosaurs were on the top shelf,†a labor intensive situation, considering their popularity.
In the school’s offices, School Committee member Judy Fraser said her feelings are “real mixed. It’s exciting but a little sad. But the new building is wonderful.â€
Joelle Brookner, sixth-grade teacher, said “I’m fine, very energized.â€
Technology director Mary Kavanaugh said, “I’ve moved from grade level to grade level, and I’d rather do that than move a family. But moving a school - Oh, my gosh!â€
Superintendent Ruth Ellis called the experience “Yin and Yang. It’s a wonderful thing to look forward to, and a maddening thing to get done in a tight window. Now the train has left the station. We’re packing things, moving them into trailers, unloading at the new school and unpacking.â€
Rempell said that while it will be a huge relief to be spared the broken pipes and resultant floods, and a delight to be in the new building, the move is nevertheless an emotional thing.
“It’s so emotionally charged,†said Rempell. “There are so many memories, so many children going through this place.â€
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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