By Rick Pusiak
The last student assembly at Northeastern Secondary School was an emotional one.
Students and staff were visibly moved Monday morning as principal Anna Barsanti gave the last ?group goodbye? in the school gym.
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Principal Anna Barsanti |
Northeastern is being closed at the end of the month because of declining enrolment.
Barsanti sat on a chair in front of the packed bleachers and started her remarks by holding up a single red rose.
She explained the petals represented the accomplishments everyone had enjoyed while the thorns were challenges and character-building experiences that had to be met to get to the red blooms.
The colour of the flower was also symbolic as the official colours of Northeastern are red and black.
She asked each student to put their two hands together and meditate so all they could hear was her voice, and all they could feel was the love in the gymnasium. Barsanti then told the students whenever they feel down and out in years to come to clasp their hands and ?remember today and you will never be alone.?
Before dismissal she led the assembly in a couple of verses of When You?re Happy and You Know It.
?I can?t believe I actually sang into a microphone and had them singing along,? said Barsanti after the assembly.
?That?s the first time in my life I sang into a microphone in front of any type of group.?
The final gathering of the student body ended with what?s called a ?clap out,? a tradition Barsanti started at the school where everyone applauds each other as they leave an assembly.
Barsanti, who hails from Sault Ste. Marie, has taught for more than two decades, but she was a brand new principal when she walked into Northeastern three-and-a-half years ago.
The assignment got off to a bumpy start as she got used to the students, staff and parents and they became accustomed to her style of doing things and her high expectations.
?It was a bumpy road to say the least, but now we?re at a place where we truly are a community school and we are a family, we support one another, we work together and we understand,? said Barsanti.
This is the last week high school students will be in the building for regular classes. The student body will be split between Confederation Secondary and Lasalle Secondary and officially transfer in September.
?We were a family, we all got along with each other,? said Grade 10 student Willie Cote.
Grade 12 student Becky Vendetti will never forget touring with the Evolutionary Band, the school?s large rock ensemble that is being relocated to Confederation.
Stephanie Lamothe was glad to be able to go to a small school where teachers know your name and students genuinely care for one another.
The Northeastern building will reopen in September and be filled with students from Falconbridge and Robert Jack elementary schools.
Public school trustees voted a few months ago to close those two buildings. The new super elementary school will keep the Northeastern name.
