Ellis students get traditional send off on school’s last day of operation
Published 9:27 am Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Students pour out of Howard Elementary School. (Leader photo/KELSEY HAMMON)
Assistant principal Trevonda Goins waves goodbye to students as they board the bus in front of Howard Elementary. (Leader photos/KELSEY HAMMON)
Students make faces for the camera after boarding the bus home from school. From left, Revaughn Peterson, 6, Chris Avila, 7, and Rylee Ferrier, 6. (Leader photo/KELSEY HAMMON)
Tuesday marked a bittersweet occasion for students and faculty at James Ellis Elementary School, 27450 Mannix St., Niles.
It was the last day of school, and final day before the school shuts its doors and ceases operation. The building has served kindergarten through first-grade students, and is currently for sale.
Next year’s students will attend new classrooms at the location of Howard Elementary, 2788 Mannix St., Niles, where construction is complete. Thanks to a $40 million bond the district passed in 2015 to complete several projects, nine new classrooms, a brand new gym and security upgrades await students in the fall.
While teachers and administrators expressed excitement for the new classrooms, Ellis employees could not help but feel a little nostalgic.
“The school is near and dear to my heart,” said Amy Archer, the Ellis secretary.
For Archer, the building holds many memories. Archer attended elementary school at Ellis as a child and, years later, her four children would also attend the elementary school.
“I am excited about the move,” Archer said. “The addition is fabulous, but it is sad leaving this building.”
Instructional assistant Jamie Janke said it was a bit surreal turning in her key card.
She too said she would miss the old building, but was excited for change.
Per end of the year tradition, students at Ellis climbed aboard a waiting fleet of school buses that would transport them down the block to Howard Elementary.
There, teachers and administrators lined the parking lot and waved goodbye to students.
Bus drivers honked their horns and children opened down the windows to wave.
Among those sending off the children to their summer break was Howard Elementary principal Michelle Asmus.
Asmus said nine new classrooms await next year’s kindergarten through first-grade students.
Previously, Ellis served as part of a two-building campus in Howard Township, referred to as “Howard-Ellis.”
After completing first grade at Ellis, students moved on to Howard Elementary.
“We are very excited to become one,” Asmus said.
