Lafayette’s Last Party

The closing of Lafeyette School is bittersweet for its 300 students, their families and the staff. 

Cotton candy, hula-hoops and a moon bounce helped ease the pain. 

Thursday, the 99-year-old school held its last party — in the form of a farewell carnival on the fields behind the building. 

The school hired a DJ, set up a moon bounce, and served carnival fixings like popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy to the students. 

Lafayette will close its doors for the last time Friday afternoon, and the students and staff will end up in different schools next year, as part of a city-wide redistricting plan. 

Read background on the redistricting here.

I don’t think it’s going to hit me until it’s all over and I’m out that door,” said fifth-grade teacher Bettina Youngs.

Youngs worked at Lafayette for 22 years.

It’s a family atmosphere here,” Youngs said, recalling her tenure at the school, which served students in the downtown community. You just got really close to the people you work with.”

Memories

Parents Thursday said they will miss the holiday concerts, the extra help their children received and the familiar hallways of Lafayette School. 

Some, like PTA president Michele Zoppi, put four children through the school. 

I’ve had every teacher at this school,” Zoppi said. Everybody cared about each other, and it showed. I think Lafayette is a great school, and I’m sad to see it close.”

Her youngest son, Joe, is in fifth grade and will go to the new 5 – 6 school, Perry Hill, next year.

He’s nervous. Sad the school’s closing, nervous to go to the new school, and excited at the same time,” Zoppi said. 

Photo: Jodie MozdzerDoreen Brown sent two sons through Lafayette, and her daughter, Sara, is entering first grade next year. 

My daughter doesn’t get to go to the elementary school her brothers went to,” Brown said. For me, it’s a big change because I’m going to have children in three different schools.”

Fifth-grader Joe Ciliberti said he also had mixed feelings.

It’s kind of sad because this school has been open for 99 years,” Ciliberti said. But I think it will also be fun because we’ll get to meet new people.”

Principal Darlene Tickey said the school hosted several farewell events for the students this year — including a performance by Center Stage and a visit from Morgan Kaolian, who took aerial photos of the school and the students standing outside.

Friday, Tickey said she will distribute one cupcake to each student on the last day. 

It’s sad,” Tickey said. But in many ways, it’s a happy occasion. The teachers get to continue on with a career they love, and the boys and girls are situated in new schools.”

Click play below to watch New Channel 8’s coverage of the day.

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