Final classes held at Navarino School

It was a day full of emotional goodbyes Thursday, as parents, students and teachers said their final goodbyes at Navarino Elementary School.

“We’re like a big family here,” said parent Tricia Zinkel. “We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs together.”

The approval of a $5.8 million referendum in the Bonduel School District in April 2008 marked the certain closure of Navarino Elementary, and an addition has since been built at Bonduel Elementary to handle additional students.

One of the factors, according to district officials, was availability of services to students. Special education and Title 1 services are not provided in Navarino, and the library and computer lab were also deemed inadequate. The school has served the community since 1963.

The teachers at the school agreed that it will be hard to recreate the same atmosphere that has been a great building block for the Navarino community.

“Every teacher knew every child’s name — it’s the end of an era,” said first grade teacher Judy Ebert, who began teaching at Navarino School in 1973, worked at the other district buildings, and has since returned. “The school has meant so much to the community, and everyone worked together just like a family.”

Several students said they’re a bit nervous about next year too.

“There will be more kids there,” said first grader Kyle Hanus. “I won’t have all the same friends in class at the same time, and there will be long bus rides.”

Parent Jenny Wilcox said the school has really been a huge asset to the community, and it will be missed. She has two students at Navarino — Cade, a first grader, and Owen, a third grader.

“We have small class sizes, and the students get individual attention, and it maybe won’t be as much with a larger class,” she said. “There’s a special attachment to the school. My kids don’t exactly know what to expect, but they’ll get to move there (Bonduel Elementary) together.”

It was just five years ago that the district closed Cecil Elementary School, and transported those students to Bonduel.

Zinkel said it will be hard to recreate the same feeling with a larger school.

“I’ll miss the small community feel — it’s quite different in Bonduel,” she said. “Here, on such a small scale, we can do so much more with the kids, and so many different events for holidays.”

Living a mile away from Navarino School, Zinkel’s children, Kelsey and Logan will also have a longer trip.

“I’m really going to miss visiting with the teachers quick in the morning,” she said. “With the kids riding the bus, I won’t get to do that in Bonduel.”

Kindergarten teacher Lori Block said she will miss the school as well, but said there are other benefits to be gained.

“We all have wonderful memories of Navarino School, but we’re ready to move on,” she said. “The kids got to visit Bonduel Elementary the other day, and principal Peggy Jones and school counselor Sheri Schill took them on a tour and got them acclimated to their new school.”

The students also saw their new classrooms and met some of the other kids they’ll be with.

“That was a wonderful thing to do,” she said. “There’s a little excitement, and a little anxiety, but they will get to visit for an open house before school starts again.”

Second grade teacher Cindy Peeters said the parents really made them feel special.

“Whenever you had a problem, you never had to worry, you could always count on them,” she said.

The school served 45 students in kindergarten through third grade. The building has already been listed for sale through a Shawano real estate agency.

“It’s a very integral part of the community, always has been, and was very well supported by the community in the Navarino area,” said superintendent Peter Behnke. “It’s become a situation based on where we have to go with our budget, finances, and quality of education we offer students — it’s going to be better for them to be consolidated at Bonduel. We have always appreciated the support the Navarino community has had for the school.”

— The Navarino Elementary Farewell Celebration is slated for Saturday, June 13 from noon to 4 p.m. The event is for families, past and present students and faculty, and will feature food, games, inflatables, DJ, a historic slide show, and a school tour.

Final classes held at Navarino School

It was a day full of emotional goodbyes Thursday, as parents, students and teachers said their final goodbyes at Navarino Elementary School.

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