BEVERLY — Memories of McKeown Elementary School will last forever.
And to be absolutely certain that's the case, the fifth grade rounded up pictures, drawings, T-shirts, projects and other memorabilia and presented it all to the Beverly Historical Society yesterday, on the last day of school.
"I would like to applaud you ... for showing the foresight to collect this stuff and pass it on to us for future generations," said Darren Brown, collections manager at the Historical Society.
Yet as students from the last fifth-grade class received their graduation certificates, it was clear there were many more memories. Although they were too many and too personal to be preserved in any tangible way, they were moments that shape a childhood, lessons learned at McKeown that will follow these kids through middle school, high school and the rest of their lives.
They talked about field day and the pumpkin fair, about the fifth-grade play and the teachers who have helped them along the way.
Student Alex Marcus talked about being dyslexic and how he struggled through second grade but found a teacher who really worked with him.
"I have become an excellent reader," he said, as he read his story from a piece of paper in front of the friends, teachers, staff, parents and volunteers who make up the community — the family, really — that is Team McKeown.
As usual, the last day of school was marked by the fifth-grade graduation ceremony. It was slightly larger this year, with more awards, more recognition, more thank-yous and gifts and stories, and a video of the students during the weeks before summer vacation.
Otherwise, it was like any other last day, and sadness about the closing of the school took a back seat to enjoyment of the final ceremony.
In September, McKeown will reopen as an alternative secondary school for special education students, and the students there now will be moved to either North Beverly or Ayers elementary schools. About 200 other students will also be moved around as part of a citywide redistricting.
The school closing is a cost-cutting measure, meant to reduce a $2.6 million gap between spending and revenue in next year's budget.
McKeown School was built less than 10 years ago and has been on the chopping block three times in the past four years. The ax finally fell yesterday, but the school community left the building with pride — and a spirit of generosity.
With the money raised by the school store, they donated $500 to the Beverly Public Library for a new bookmobile and another $500 to the McKeown PTO scholarship fund.
Another $46 raised by recycling bottles and cans, which is usually used to buy books for the school library, was used to buy books for North Shore Children's Hospital instead.
"Team McKeown is all about giving to others," Principal Colleen McBride said.
It's another lesson students will take with them as they leave McKeown behind and prepare for a new school in the fall.
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