Community says farewell to Nova Elementary
JACKSON, Tenn. — With the school year coming to an end, some schools across the Jackson-Madison county district will dismiss students one final time in just a few weeks. Community members are taking the little time they have left to reminisce.
“I feel sad about the school closing because both of my daughters went to school here. I’m glad they are doing this and letting people, former students and teachers come back today,” said former librarian Jane Moore.
Saturday afternoon students, teachers and the community members gathered to remember the good times at Nova Elementary.
“We’ve been at school together since forever,” said former student Addie Rogers. “So this is kind of where we became best friends.”
“We met through our moms so we’ve been in school together since kindergarten here,” said former student Ansley Allen about Rogers. “We’ve just grown up together.”
During the Nova farewell, visitors were able to look at old yearbooks and school pictures that date back almost 50 years. Folks were able to read current students memories displayed on the walls around the school.
“It might be old, and it might be small but there’s a lot of memories in this school,” said Nova fifth grader Alison Spivey.
“There are a lot of good memories at Nova Elementary school,” said former Nova Principal Carl Long.
Although some parents said they are skeptical about the school closing and having to transition to a new school, some students are hopeful.
“I’m sad that Nova’s going to be closing down but also happy because I’ll make new friends, and still I’m going to know my friends from Nova and teachers from Nova,” said Nova student Elisha Gaugh.
The school may be closing, but the principal hopes the strong community support doesn’t fade away.
“It’s our farewell to all the support that they’ve given us over the years,” said Nova principal Kippi Jordan, “but also to encourage them to continue supporting where our students will be going next year and staying involved.”
“I’m really sad that it’s going to be closing but it was great school and a lot of people came here and it touched a lot of peoples lives,” said Allen.
Everyone that walked through the doors of Nova Saturday took home a poem.
Principal Jordan said it sums up how everyone should look at transitioning to a different school next fall.
The poem reads, “This place is just a building, but you’re going to make it so much more.”
For parents and students who may be counting down, there are less than four weeks left in this school year.
The last day of classes in Jackson-Madison County is May 18th.
