Plains holds barbecue to celebrate last day of school

For lunch: 450 hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, sodas/water, fruit and more.

That was the simple but good menu this past Thursday at Plains Schools when it was BBQ for the kids day as the students cleaned up books and lockers and prepared to head out for summer break.

But not before Plains Superintendent Thom Chisholm and his staff of teachers and assistants cooked and served the noon-time meal to several hundred students and their families.

“We usually do this every year, but not during the last few years with the Co-vid situation”, Chisholm said. “We also hand out some supplies for next year and have a raffle before we send them on their way”.

The raffle this year included five Kindles, the electronic device that lets users see and read books and other materials, and five new bicycles to the lucky winners.

“We (the local Masonic Lodge) do a pancake breakfast every year to raise funds to pay for the prizes in the raffle”, said Bill Burrell of Plains, a member of the Mason Lodge Number 70. “We are very happy to be part of this”.

That sentiment was echoed by Ricki Kulawinski, one of several volunteer school helpers and parents.

“We love Plains schools and this small community,” she said as she readied a part of the BBQ lunch for the expected throng of hungry students and their families. “I am so glad my kids (one in sixth, the other in fourth grade) are growing up here”.

And arrive they did. While some of the school’s approximately 450 K-12 students had already finished their school year, the mostly elementary school crowd remained for one last day. Among their duties: cleaning up and erasing text books to be stored until next year. That practice has been a common one for schools across the state and continues to this day in Plains.

For Fifth grade teachers Alec Cole and Joseph Kerney the last day of school is often a “bittersweet” experience.

“This has been an awesome group and it’s been a good year,” Cole said. “They have been really good to work with.

That feeling was echoed by Kerney who described the fifth graders as “an exceptional group of students”.

Jordyn Steinbach, a second grader said she was ready for the start of summer break as she munched on a BBQ hamburger cooked by Chisholm on a large wagon/grill in the school’s courtyard area.

“I will miss some of my bestest friends,” she said. “But I’m happy to be done with this year”.

Sitting at the same table was her younger brother Anthony who said he was sad to be leaving for the summer for different reasons.

“I will miss playing with all my friends,” Anthony said. “I’m kinda sad because I want to stay in first grade. You get good toys to play with in first grade”.

With that, the BBQ continued and the bicycles and Kindles were handed out to the lucky winners.

Meanwhile, Chisholm said he was glad to get a full school year in the books.

“I like the stage we are at (with Co-vid not shutting things down),” he said. “The kids have been back in school, that’s the bottom line”.