There were a lot of tears on the last day at Saccarappa School in Westbrook. And a lot of bubbles, too.
At a fourth-grade graduation ceremony in the gym that Friday — June 13 — photos of students, as babies and now, were projected on a screen while the ukulele version of “Somewhere Over Rainbow” played. The class then processed through the hallway, where their parents and siblings lined the walls, clapping, cheering and filming with their phones.
Outside by the playground, kids hugged their teachers and friends, many of them wiping red eyes. As Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration” blasted from speakers, out came the bubble wands, blown by staff at students as they made their way to their buses. With the kids waving out the windows, the drivers honked as they pulled away from the school.
And all that before noon.
So what were the kids going to do with the rest of their day — their first hours of freedom before trips and summer camps would start to take over?
Arlo Belanger, 10, was going with his family to Five Guys, and he already knew what he was going to order. “A cheeseburger and an Oreo milkshake,” he said.
His classmate, Marcus Doucette, had spotted the Dairy Queen coupon for a free small cone that was clipped to his graduation certificate. “I was hoping to ask my mom when I get home,” he said.
Ice cream was on 10-year-old Cassidy Parks’ must-do list, too. Her mother, Bethany Bodwell, said she was going to bring her to Beal’s then to her cousin’s house for a pool party and sleepover.
Six-year-old William Lovett was given the option of going to Funtown, but he chose family, too. “I’d like to see my cousins,” he said.
The afternoon before, three cousins and their mothers sat at a picnic table behind The Dairy Corner in Scarborough, eating ice cream and, for 10-year-old Conner Ziebart, a chocolate-covered banana.
Technically, that was his last day at Minot Consolidated School, but after dropping off an Amazon gift card for his teacher, he went with his family to Old Orchard Beach, where he ate fried dough, shopped at a candy store and played in the arcade.
For his 16-year-old sister, Mya, June 11 was both the last day at Poland Regional High School and her first day as a licensed driver. She took the test that morning and, after dismissal, drove herself to Dunkin’ for a Refresher and a glazed doughnut.
Their cousin, Evan Robenstine, 12, had his last day at Gray-New Gloucester Middle School that Wednesday, too. He celebrated with lunch at Hana Asian Cuisine in Windham, followed by mini golf at Seacoast Adventure. Then, he got to buy Legos at Walmart, “because I got good grades,” he said.
Also at The Dairy Corner was 6-year-old Greta Knouse, who had been there the day before, too. It’s on her way home from Blue Point Primary School in Scarborough.
After her last day of school that coming Friday, she thought she might want to play mini golf at Pirate’s Cove in Old Orchard Beach, but first, she said, “I think I’m going to Dairy Corner.”
Nine-year-old Langston Stankus still had a couple more days to go before the Gerald E. Talbot Community School in Portland got out for the summer this past Tuesday.
Right after school, he’d probably go home and play Fortnite, but he had bigger plans for the next morning.
“I’m sleepin’ in,” he said.
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