The official end of an era in Benalto has come and passed.
Classes are over at the hamlet's school, first opened in 1938 and possibly closed forever.
The community held an emotional final day for the institution's last 22 students and two teachers on June 24, a “solemn” all-day celebration designed to give the school and what it meant for the hamlet a deserved, heartfelt send-off.
There was a morning assembly. Awards were handed out to young students. Teachers offered messages of appreciation to parents. Gifts were handed out to volunteers. And there were speeches made by senior officials from the Chinook's Edge School Division, which was forced last April, following a two-year review, to make the painful decision to permanently close the school.
“The kids actually did fairly well. I think it was because of all the distractions,” said Lisa Mason, who with other parents went all-out to ensure children had fun on the final day, which included cake and ice cream, a huge sub from Subway, as well as plenty of games and activities. “Leading up to Friday (June 24) I would say the kids were pretty upset on and off.
“My daughter Autumn came home a handful of times crying after school, bringing home her things and knowing it was the end of it, exchanging phone numbers, thinking they would never see each other again, which they will,” she said, adding Autumn, a Grade 4 student, will be attending school in Eckville next year. “I would call it a ‘solemn' day. We tried to make it as best as possible for the kids and the people, but it was kind of a downer day. We held it together for the kids.”
Kurt Sacher, the superintendent of schools for Chinook's Edge, attended the final day. He praised the resilience of the children. Sacher also knew the day was a challenging one for the school's two teachers, Betty Brassard and Kevin Frey.
“They spoke to the parents that were there and they did a really nice job at an assembly. They had a celebration of Benalto School with lots of video clips with the students and what they did during the year, but they also talked a lot about Benalto School's history,” noted Sacher.
“For both it was an emotional time. When you have people who put their heart and soul into something for many years, it is very difficult for them to see the school close, and the same for the parents.”
Sacher said there was also a positive thread weaving through the sadness of the day with the knowledge the community will still have the building now that it has been conditionally purchased by Red Deer County.
As well, the green space beside the structure will be preserved. He also noted that parents have filed a charter school application to Alberta Education, which retains hope for everyone in the community.
“We wish them the best in that, and if they are successful maybe with the building they can work something out with the county,” said Sacher.
“There's lots of history in the building. It has been a great school for a long time. At the same time everybody knows the school is closing and that is sad. There is no other way to describe that.”
"We tried to make it as best as possible for the kids and the people, but it was kind of a downer day. We held it together for the kids."
