The closing of Rogers Elementary School at the end of this month is making many members of the community reflect upon the good times that they had while in school.
Rogers Elementary School hosted an open house Thursday night for alumni and the public to come together and reminisce. Refreshments were offered, along with the history of the school. Yearbooks and scrapbooks, some from as early as the 1930s, were laid out for people to look at. There was also a slideshow and video.
"The teachers are supposed to be out by June 29, and the school will basically be closed down after that. So, we just wanted to see if anyone wanted to come down," said David Hickey, principal.
Article Photos
Mackenzie Abbey, left, looks at old Rogers Elementary School yearbooks with her grandmother, center, and Kristen Wilson, right, during an open house.
P-J photo by Liz Skoczylas
Mackenzie Abbey is currently in seventh grade, but graduated from Rogers School just three years ago. She said that she is feeling upset about Rogers closing.
"I came from here, and I have a lot of memories here," Mackenzie said.
Kristen Wilson and her son Matthew also attended the open house. Mrs. Wilson was a member of the first kindergarten class at the school, in 1976. Matthew is currently in fourth grade, and will be moving to Jefferson Middle School next year.
"It was just a wonderful place. He started here in pre-K, and he's been here until this year. There are wonderful teachers and wonderful people here," Mrs. Wilson said.
Seeing the old yearbooks and scrapbooks made Mrs. Wilson feel nostalgic.
"It's bittersweet, I guess. We have a lot of memories, a lot of friends, a lot of life-long friends that I've met. I see the pictures and I'm just reliving the memories," Mrs. Wilson said.
The Rogers Transition Team initiated the idea for the open house, and the idea was carried out by the staff at Rogers Elementary School. Hickey said that many of the yearbooks, scrapbooks and pictures were already in the school.