No more pencils, no more books

HARLEM VALLEY — School is out for summer, causing great relief and happiness to school-aged children around the region.

The final day for the Webutuck school district was June 26, while the final day for the Pine Plains school district was June 27.

On Thursday afternoon, the school buses drove to Amenia Elementary School for the last afternoon dismissal for the year.

"We will miss them, we even miss them when they’re out sick during the year," bus driver Rudy Eschbach said about the school’s students. "We tell them each to have a safe summer. We all look forward to seeing them in September again."

"Children keep you young," driver Kenneth Stevens added.

"I will absolutely miss these kids," bus driver Frank Jackson said. "Some of the kids are great, some of them are little monsters. It’s one of those love and hate things. It’s the way that life is. Eighty-five percent of the kids are little sweethearts."

Elementary school principal Joel Freer said he would absolutely miss the children.

"Absolutely," Freer said. "They will leave a mark on all of our lives for years to come. It was a wonderful year for them. Their teachers worked hard to provide a good program for them and the students rose to the challenge. I hope during the summer that the students will keep reading and keep learning so they can come back in September ready to go."

Not only was it the students' last day of school on Thursday, but it was also teacher Karen Jaquith’s last day.

Jaquith, who worked as an academic intervention services teacher at the school, retired after 36 years of teaching and was flanked by other teachers after the buses left.

"It’s emotional and it's exciting to see them and think about where they started, when they came into kindergarten, then second grade," Jaquith said. "Being a part of that has been very special. I look at this as a graduation to the next step of my life. I will miss all of them."

On Friday afternoon at Seymour Smith Elementary School in Pine Plains, parents, teachers and administrators celebrated the end of the year with a barbecue and party.

First-grade teacher Jennifer Chase said she will miss the students.

"These kids are like sponges because they just take in whatever you give them," Chase said. "I’ll miss them so much that I run a day camp during the summer with most of them."

Physical Education teacher Dennis Johnson said the students at the school are excellent children.

"It’s been a joy to watch them grow up," Johnson said. "They are great and I will absolutely miss them during the summer."