Community says goodbye to St. Thomas d’Aquin
A chapter in Medicine Hat history came to a close, as Thursday marked the final day of school at École St. Thomas d'Aquin.
“We have been a big family — staff, parents and students,” said Michelle Lukacs, who has been secretary for eight years at St. Thomas, and will continue in this role at the new École St. John Paul II School opening in September. “I think that will come with us, we’ll build that.”
Throughout the year there’s been ups and downs between excitement and sadness, said Lukacs, as they prepare to close the school and open the new one. Staff, students, parents and grandparents gathered in the gymnasium Thursday morning for one final assembly, where students were given awards, songs were sung and a slideshow highlighted the final year.
The last day of school has always been a time of goodbye for the older students heading on to middle school — and these students were decked out in graduation caps for the assembly.
“It’s sad seeing the school in its final year,” said Grade 6 student Eden MacNeil, who came to the school in Grade 1. “It’s hard to let it go.”
For Grade 1 student Linnea Graf, the blisters on her palms are part of her proudest accomplishments this past year at St. Thomas: Learning to make it all the way across the monkey bars.
When asked what her favourite memory and activity? Swimming.
She’s excited to head off to the new École St. John Paul II School, which she and her family toured earlier this week at an open house.
“The coolest part was the stage and library,” she said.
Grade 5 students Kyle Miller and Eickhen Knauer both said the one thing they will miss about being at St. Thomas is their friends, as not everyone will be going to same school next year.
“This classroom, this gym ... everything about the school,” said Miller when asked of his favourite part of St. Thomas. “The funny moments and the good moments we had.”
“And our teacher Mme. Quilan,” added in Knauer.
The amount of fundraising and support the school council has provided to St. Thomas has been “invaluable” and “impressive,” said Lukacs, especially for such a small school.
There’s lots of work still to be done — many of the classrooms were already stacked with boxes of items like books, supplies and phys-ed equipment that will be coming over to the new school. As well, registration for École St. John Paul II School remains underway for both English and French track programs.