Those who lived it and loved it bid farewell to their old school in style

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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?’” 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.” 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.” “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.” Lanea Baum, a fourth-grader, will miss Kids’ World most, “because my step-dad helped build it.” “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.” “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.” 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.” Joelle Brookner, sixth-grade teacher, said “I’m fine, very energized.” 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!” 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.” 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.”
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McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course. 
 
The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication. 
 
"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."
 
LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates. 
 
"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.
 
The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.
 
"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back. 
 
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