Many students say they do not like school or wish they did not have to come every day. However, as the end of the school year approaches, those same students often feel differently. Suddenly, they realize they will be saying goodbye to teachers, classmates, and familiar routines. For sixth graders, it also means saying goodbye to Patrick M. Villano School and preparing for a new chapter in high school.
Kristine Lee, a fifth-grade student, shared some of her favorite memories from this school year.
“My favorite part of the school year was the field trips for fifth grade, especially the Buehler [Challenger and Space Center] trip and the band field trip,” Lee said.
When asked about her first year at Villano, Lee said, “I enjoyed it, even if it was my first year here. The teachers were nice, and everyone was pretty friendly.”
Sixth grader Sofia Rosario also reflected on the end of the school year and the transition to high school.
“Villano was great, but I’m excited to move on to high school,” Rosario said. “I’m going to miss Field Day because we don’t get that in high school. There’s also no recess, which means I can’t play or hang out with friends during the day.”
Although Rosario will miss some parts of elementary school, she is looking forward to new experiences at Emerson Junior-Senior High School.
“I’m looking forward to the cafeteria because it has better food and more choices during lunch,” Rosario said.
For sixth graders especially, this is truly the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. This summer break will last 69 days and will begin on June 25. The 2026–27 school year will start on September 2, before Labor Day, which is unusual. However, students will still have Labor Day off on September 7. While summer may seem long now, the next school year will arrive before we know it.
