SCHOOL'S OUT! SCHOOL'S OUT!

It's the end of the year for schools on the Emerald Coast. Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County schools wrapped up Thursday and Walton County students let out today.

The folks in the front office at Butler Elementary School in South Walton already had started doing a celebratory jig, where students attended awards ceremonies, paraded the halls and prepared for one last day.

"Today was a really fun day," Principal Tammy Smith said Thursday. "We're of course excited but bittersweet about our children leaving."

As the summer gets under way for Smith, Butler's halls won't be the same.

"The days are a little longer without those little bodies around," she said.

West Navarre Primary School said goodbye to their second-graders Thursday.

"We had a school-wide celebration," said Principal Sandi Eubanks. "Our staff put together a variety of entertainment acts and our theme was ‘Dancing with the Stars' today. We sang and danced."

Students paraded and blanketed the floor with confetti.
The week was especially bittersweet at Richbourg Middle School in Crestview, as former students and parents stopped by to snap photos of the old buildings.

Richbourg and Southside Elementary School students and faculty will move to new sites in the fall.

The moves to Shoal River Middle School and Riverside Elementary School are already under way.
About one-third of the Richbourg campus will be used to expand Northwood Elementary School. Immediately after Richbourg's final lunch period, the staff had to clear the cafeteria's tables to prepare for workers to start asbestos abatement and the building's transition today.

"It's been a very hectic day," Principal Bob Jones said Thursday.

It also was a festive one. Students started the day with a pep rally that celebrated the retirement of teacher Peggy Ealum. The festivities ended with one last cheer for Richbourg.

"It was a little more festive than usual because the teachers were excited and students knew they were excited," Jones said.

Enthusiasm among the students has built over the last few weeks.
"They've been a little more squirrely than normal," Jones said. "Kids are very intuitive. They've picked up on the fact that it's been a little unsettling for teachers having to box things up as they teach."

Although the year has ended for most students, school staffs have more work ahead. Richbourg and Southside faculty will continue moving to the new schools.

Jones says he knows the new building by heart. Some of his teachers will get their first look Monday.

"I'm looking forward to watching the teachers' faces as they see the new gym and their brand new classrooms and the students in the fall when they see it," Jones said.

"We're a little sad to leave Richbourg but we're more excited about moving into our new school."