Pinecrest Public School will close its doors to students for the final time later this month as a result of an accommodation review decision earlier this year by Rainbow District School Board trustees.
But before this happens, the school community is holding a “final farewell” event at Pinecrest from 6-8 p.m. June 22.
Past and present students and staff, as well as community members, are invited to the Hanmer school to look at photos and memorabilia and reminisce.
“It's a celebration of all the wonderful moments, triumphs and memories that took place at Pinecrest that people will never forget,” said Jamie Roque, chair of the school's parent council.
There's been a school building on Pinecrest's current site since 1929, and it's been called Pinecrest since the '60s, she said. “Essentially it's been part of this community since the '20s,” Roque said.
She said both of her children have attended the school, including her son Saxin, who's currently finishing Grade 6 there. Operating on a “junior high” model, Pinecrest only houses Grade 6 to 8 students.
“It was different than being part of a K-8 school, because there's a lot of things you can't do with the younger kids,” Roque said. “So being it was just the junior high, we could really focus on a lot of things just for that age.”
As of September, Grade 7 and 8 students from the school will attend Confederation Secondary School, and Grade 6 students will attend Redwood Acres Public School (which currently only goes to Grade 5).
The province announced earlier this week that the Rainbow board is receiving $23 million to consolidate and build new schools. Part of that announcement was money to build a new gymnasium at Confederation.
“There was a lot of sadness (when the school closure was finalized),” Roque said. “But since finding out that the board has approved building a gym for the 7s and 8s, I think everybody's really excited.”
If you have photos or memorabilia you'd like to contribute to the celebration, phone 705-675-0200.
