Where were you seven years ago?
That was Elsmere Elementary School Principal Kate Kloss’ question on Friday, June 1, as the school welcomed back the high school seniors who knew that seven years ago, they had been fifth graders there.
The seniors had already entered the gym singing the school song and taken their seats at the front of the room. As their former teachers introduced them, they stood, towering over some of the people who had helped them take the first steps on their path to learning.
Elsmere students seated on the floor cheered as they heard what each senior would be doing come fall, and what the seniors’ favorite memories of Elsmere school were.
By a wide margin, the favorite memory was playing Capture the Flag with Mr. Hogan.
Pete Hogan retired from teaching physical education soon after the current high school class left Elsmere.
This was a good group of children, Hogan said. `We were very close. I’m encouraged by what I see here.`
First grade teacher Robin Reed started the ball rolling for the senior event when she realized how many students stopped in at Elsmere to just say hello.
This was the first time the school has held such an event, but Reed said they hope to make it an annual thing.
`The whole staff was so excited and supportive,` Reed said of the response to the idea of creating a formal ceremony. `It’s great for the little kids to see such role models. They can see all the sports and activities the high school kids do. And college seems so abstract to them, but to hear about it kind of gets them thinking about the day they’ll do that.`
Some of the sports and activities were highlighted during the program that named a wide variety of colleges ` including SUNY Binghamton, Lehigh, Dartmouth, Virginia Tech, Geneseo, Hudson Valley, FIT ` the former Elsmere students will be attending. Elsmere’s current PE teacher, Phil Ridgeway, coaches Bethlehem’s mens varsity soccer team, and Elsmere alumni Ryan Wall and Patrick Campion praised their coach’s work and Elsmere school.
`It all starts out on that blacktop,` Campion said, pointing to the playground outside the gym’s windows. `Someday you can play for the Honorable Coach Ridgeway. Have fun at Elsmere; it’s the best time of your life.`
The grade school kids rocked out to a four-minute clip that Ridgeway had put together of the soccer team’s finest moments. The theme from `Rocky` set them clapping and swaying.
Kloss had all the student athletes stand; followed by the students who’d been involved in humanitarian organizations.
`And all the students who were in music,` Elsmere’s music teacher Cori DeFabbio said, `would you stand.`
She beamed at the high school students and turned to her current students.
`Every one!` DeFabbio said. `All right!`
Seniors Vanessa Calaban and Amy Forando played a quick and lively tune on their clarinet and oboe.
Reed acknowledged the people who had helped shape the students in their youngest school years. In addition to Hogan, the retired principal from the seniors’ Elsmere days, Dorothy Whitney, had returned for the event, as had the retired head custodian, Bert Reed. Retired teachers Shari Piper and Diana Venter (who still substitutes) were also on hand.
`Some of the students have changed so much,` Venter said.
Parents had also come ` perhaps for an unexpected last shot with a video camera at their children’s first school.
`One mother told me that coming here made her realize that her daughter really is finishing school,` Reed said.
`I came because it’s Elsmere,` said Hal Rosenthal, a former PTA president whose son Mark is graduating this year. `This is such a great place for kids.
It’s warm and protective, and a great place for kids to start learning.`
The kids also formed friendships at Elsmere.
`We met here in fourth grade,` Malina Vamvas said as she and Sarah O’Brien talked about Elsmere.
`And we’re still friends,` O’Brien said. `Lots of kids are still friends.`
As summer air warmed the Friday afternoon, it was clear that the future is mostly on the seniors’ minds.
`I’m sad to be leaving,` Vamvas said. `But excited to have something new.`
`I’m glad to be moving on,` Wall said. `I’m going to miss a lot of the stuff. Elsmere gave me a good foundation.`
When it was time for the program to end, the Elsmere students sang a thank-you song for the seniors.
`And let’s remind them what we are,` DeFabbio said, and the grade school students conga-lined out of the gym, hands on each other’s shoulders, singing, `We are family.`
As the sound of the song faded, the seniors stood from their chairs at the front of the gym, eager to talk with Mr. Hogan, Mrs. Whitney, former teachers, one another, and the parents who had just watched one circle of their children’s education close.
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