Editor’s note: Sheila Hlas was one of thousands of Belle Plaine students to attended classes at
the Central Elementary building over the years. Last week, there was a ceremony to say “good-bye” to the building, as students left for the summer and some students, as well as staff, prepared to move to a newly renovated and enlarged Longfellow Elementary School or Belle Plaine Junior-Senior High School building this fall. In the following article, Sheila offers some of her memories, as well as some thoughts from those who have been closely connected with the old building on the hill.
by Sheila Hlas
As I walked into the Central Building this afternoon, I had an overwhelming sense of sadness. Not much had really changed in the building in the 20 some years since I had been a student there. I noticed the same old tiles on the floor, the walls with its peeling paint and then all those stairs! How many times had I walked up those stairs thinking I was never going to make it to the top?
Normally walking into an old school building, especially one I had attended, I would be filled with feelings of nostalgia or thoughts of all the people who had passed through the hallways before me and wondering, where are they now? But today was different. I attribute part of the difference to knowing it’s the last day of school, and you can “feel” the excitement in the air! But the overwhelming sense of sadness comes from the reality of knowing that I am here to attend an assembly, a gathering of the students, teachers, staff, family members and other community members who are here to say their final farewells, who will one day look back and be able to say, “I was there, at Central, the last time that old building had children in its classrooms.”
Even with such mixed emotions, I’m glad that I was able to attend “A Farewell To Central” today, a program presented by the third grade classes of Mrs. Stephanie Long and Mrs. Angela Brecht.
In what will be the final assembly in the Lee Gym, Brenda Miller, long time school secretary, who is retiring this year, was honored for her 33 years of employment. When I spoke with Brenda earlier today, I asked her what her feelings were, knowing this was the last time she would sit behind her desk and help the students, faculty and staff at the Central. She responded, “Sad. I’ve been here almost the whole time. Sad for the staff. But the building is not safe. This is where we grew up with our kids. This is like a second home, we’re a family.” I thanked her for her time and silently thought to myself, her life is going to be so different now and I wish her the best.
I left the office and found myself walking past the lockers, down more stairs and through the long hallway that goes past the music room and into the gym. Remembering all the times as a child I ran through that hall and loving how our voices echoed so much! (I’m sure our teachers loved that too.) As I entered the gym, Mr. Jack Schlesselman, the band instructor for the last 30 years, was there with the 5th and 6th grade bands warming up for their performance that would be part of today’s farewell.
As I take my place in the bleachers, I see the teachers coming in with students. Many of them were my teachers in school and several of them were my classmates. It’s nice to know that we have people dedicated to our school district. I read the program for the ceremony and see that we are going to be treated to a presentation of posters that depict the building’s history. I can also see that some students have taken a lot of time and have prepared a collage of posters that depict events of importance that have taken place during the lifespan of the Central Building.
As the assembly starts, I hear Mr. Dennis Phelps, the principal, thanking the students and staff for a good year and asking them to put their energies and excitement into next year when they’re all housed together in the Longfellow building. One of my favorite parts of the ceremony is when the third grade class shared some fun facts about the Central Building. I have added them at the end, please see DID YOU KNOW? below.
Distinguished speakers are Mrs. Charlene Hurt, 1964 graduate from Belle Plaine when the Central building was a high school. She shares tales of her high school years including driver’s education with her teacher, Mr. Wallace Winkie, who was also in attendance today. She honored him by stating that he is “Truly a man of integrity”.
Next, retired teacher Mr. John Rassler shares his memories of his years at Central and has us all in laughter! Mrs. Joyce Livermore, former teacher and current school board president shares her memories and her enthusiasm for the new Preschool – 6th Grade, Longfellow Building, reminding us all, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened,” a quote by Theodore Seuss Geisel, better know by his pen name, Dr. Suess, and adopted by Belle Plaine’s Class of 2010 as their class motto. Last of the speakers is Will Mengler, a student who attended the Central Building from 2nd grade until today, his last day as a 6th grader. It was nice to get the perspective from a young man who had seen a lot of moving around within the building, whether it was teachers to different grades, or to different classrooms.
Wrapping up the ceremony is a slide show presentation and then all of the students, staff and family members in attendance were dismissed and we all lined up around the building to give it a giant hug! I have to admit that a lump formed in my throat several times throughout the ceremony and again as I’m witnessing the children of today, standing hand in hand, around a building that I thought would always be there. Like art teacher, Mrs. Gina Miller commented, “It’s hard because the students here have seen the building come full circle.” And as Mrs. Stephanie Long, 3rd grade teacher commented, “It’s bittersweet, lot’s of memories. This building has served us well”.
And it has, in the 99 years the Central building has been open, it has endured much. It served as both a high school and elementary and even survived a fire. Unfortunately it has outlived its purpose and it’s time to move on, hard as that might be.
So as I stand here, watching the excitement on the children’s faces, my feelings of sadness are turning to those of fondness and even though the excitement is contagious, one last thought comes to my mind, during the assembly Mrs. Stephanie Long pointed out, that come this fall, “For the first time this building (Central building location) will not open for classes in 143 years!”.
I know that as a school district and a community, we are moving in the right direction, but I cannot move on without giving the Central building the thanks and respect it so deserves. So in closing, I say this, “Farewell Central building, you truly did serve our community well”!
If you would like to share your thoughts and memories on the Central Building, please feel free to post your comments below, they are most welcome!
DID YOU KNOW? (As shared at the student assembly – A Farewell to Central)
Fun facts you may not know about Central Elementary as presented by Mrs. Brecht’s 3rd grade and used with their permission.:
STAIRS – Did you know there are around 160 steps in Central that we have to climb every day? It is like an Olympic Event.
STUDENTS – Did you know that there are currently 192 students enrolled in Central Elementary School?
UP AND DOWN – Did you know on average, a third grader travels up and down the steps of Central 9 times a day? That is a good workout!
ROOMS – Did you know there are approximately 37 rooms in Central Elementary? This includes the boiler room, bathrooms, and coatrooms?
TEACHING AT CENTRAL – Did you know that Mrs. Long and Mr. Lamaak have both taught here at Central for 28 years? They deserve an award!
WINDOWS – Did you know that there are 103 windows in Central Elementary? That is a lot of Windex!
BOOKS – Did you know that there are 3,718 books in the library at Central Elementary? That is until Mrs. Buch comes, and then there are 3,719.
TRASH BAGS – Did you know that Steve replaces 20 garbage bags a week here at Central Elementary? What a mess!
RECESS – Did you know that it takes approximately 721 footsteps to get from Mrs. Brecht’s room to recess and back? That takes the average class 5 minutes and 15 seconds.
TOILETS AND SINKS – Did you know that there are 19 toilets and 17 sinks in Central Elementary? Wow!
PRESIDENTS – Did you know that there have been 18 presidents since Central (North School) was built?
TEACHERS AS STUDENTS – Did you know that 10 of the teachers from Belle Plaine were once students at Central Elementary? Can you guess who they are? Mrs. Gates, Mrs. Coover, Miss Tomlin, Mrs. Miller, Mr. Yilek, Mr. Walton, Ms. Mast, Mrs. Mantz, Miss Daily and Mrs. Brecht.
PARENTS AS STUDENTS – Did you know that in Mrs. Brecht’s classroom, 30 of our parents went to school at Central Elementary?
CENTRAL – Did you know that we are all going to miss Central Elementary very much?
Students join hands and encircle Central on the final day of classes.
