While it was the last day of school for thousands of Suffolk children, one school in Suffolk saw its last day as well.

Southwestern Elementary School dismissed its last classes on Friday, although staff will continue working in the building for a little while longer as they prepare for their move to Pioneer Elementary School up the road.

“It’s bittersweet,” said Rose Lyerly, who cherished her position as music teacher at Southwestern, because she got to know every child in the school, not just those in one classroom. “I just love old schools. The kids — it’s like one family.”

Principal Christopher Phillips said the mood in the school had been fun for students.

“We had a wonderful, fun day today,” he said. “It was nice.”

As at most schools, teachers and other staff lined the bus ramp to wave at their children as they went home for the final time this year — and left Southwestern for the final time ever.

The last day of school marked the beginning of retirement for four staff at Florence Bowser Elementary School, educators Florence Marrone and LeaAnne Snethen, librarian Florence Michener and custodian Jasper Waters.

Marrone, who turned 85, is retiring after about 24 years with the district. “I have swallowed hard several times today so I wouldn’t cry,” she said.

“It’s excitement, it’s anticipation, it’s curiosity as to what my life will bring. Hopefully I might be able to spend a little more time with my great-grandchild in Suffolk.”

Cheryl Riddick, principal at Florence Bowser, said all four retiring staff “have done a magnificent job of impacting the lives of children.”

Rain started pouring down as students streamed out of the school building and onto buses, but not before Riddick had hugged a good many, wishing them a safe and happy summer break.

Parent Kenyatta Pore was excited by the prospect of having daughter Jada Pore, a rising second-grader, home for a few months.

“I think she’s more excited than me, however,” Kenyatta Pore said. “It gives us more time to spend together.”

Melvin Bradshaw, principal at Forest Glen Middle School, said the day meant different things for different grade levels.

“Eighth-graders were pretty sad — this is their last day of middle school,” Bradshaw said. “You can see a lot of emotion with the kids and the parents, knowing they have finished their three years here at Forest Glen.”

But sixth-graders are looking forward to becoming seventh-graders, and seventh-graders are looking forward to being head of the school, he said.

From the perspective of a bus driver, Deanah Greene said that the last run of the year often holds a pleasant surprise:

“It always seems like the one (student) who gave you the most trouble is the sweetest on the last day of school,” she said.

“Their whole demeanor and body language changes, because they are in love with you — you are taking them home on the last day of school.”

As the buses pulled away from Forest Glen, teachers stood at the bus loop and waved their young charges-no-longer goodbye.

“They come to me when they get in here, and then I hug them when they leave,” said Edward Hollowell, arm around the shoulder of student De’andre Faulk.

Over at Hillpoint Elementary School, with less than 15 minutes remaining in the school year, teaching assistant Kathleen Powell sat on the floor of a hallway, back against the wall and legs stretched out in front of her.

She was — and there’s no nice way to say it — sitting by herself and pouting.

“I’m bummed out, because I can’t go out in the rain,” she said, looking through the door to the bus ramp at the end of the hallway to a sidewalk that was being soaked by a pouring rain.

“The thing I look forward to is going out and waving at the kids.”

As it turned out, Powell got her wish. As suddenly as it had started, the rain stopped, just before students were released from their classrooms and ushered to their buses. They emerged from the building into sunlight, walking out between rows of teachers and school administrators lined up to give them hugs and high fives.

Waiting for the signal to queue her students for their buses, Early Start teacher Mary Joyner snuggled a sad and quiet Anita Chen. “She said she wants to keep me,” Joyner said.

Some teachers expressed the celebratory tone of the bus-ramp sendoff with bubbles; others brought signs they had made for the occasion.

“Owl miss you” read a large sign held by kindergarten teacher Carol Johnson, who also showed off her owl earrings to a curious bystander.

“My classroom is everything owls,” she said, laughing. “It has even begun to spill over into my home.”

Teacher Evelyn Gibson held a sign that stated the obvious sentiment of both teachers and students: “Oh happy day!”

See more photos from Suffolk News-Herald staff here and see reader-submitted photos here.

Staff Writer Matthew A. Ward and Editor R.E. Spears III contributed to this report.