Schools
Brook El Rocks the End of Year
At a year-end Dance Party, teachers performed a surprise number. It was a bittersweet end as one third of Brookfield Elementary students prepare to move schools to make room for students when Hillside closes.
True to this year's theme — Brook"filled" Elementary Rocks — the school rocked out the end of their school year with a Dance Party and surprise performance by teachers.
Students danced, laughed and had fun as they closed out the 2011-12 school year.
Next fall, about 130 students comprising about one third of Brookfield Elementary School will be moving to new schools (Swanson, Burleigh and Dixon). The redistricting is being done to keep most Hillside Elementary School students together when they lose their school and move en masse to Brook El next fall.
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The Elmbrook School Board voted last fall to close Hillside and move from six elementary schools to five due to declining enrollment, budget pressures and underutilitized classrooms. Students changing schools got to visit them during Open Houses May 9 and other summer transitional events are planned.
But last week it was all about celebrating friendships and fun, with Field Day, final assemblies, yearbook signings and a Dance Party. The "filled" in the Brook"filled" theme stands for the school's goal of filling every child's "bucket" with learning and encouragement.
Find out what's happening in Brookfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"There were so many hugs and smiles, just laughter together," Brookfield Elementary Principal Lynn Raines said.
Students watched a 16-minute video of the year's highlights, created by the band teacher.
Raines gave students a decal — sponsored by the PTO — with a picture of the bottle cap art mural they created this year with their artist-in-residence Michelle Stitzlein and art teacher Mrs. Wolf.
On the back of the decal Raines penned a note that said in part:
Thank you for a wonderful year together. Cherish the memories and friendships you have developed at Brookfield Elementary — they will last a lifetime!
Remember, whether you are returning to Brookfield Elementary, or transferring to Swanson, Dixon, Burleigh, or moving on to Wisconsin Hills or another school ... once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat! I wish you all a safe and enjoyable summer.
Love,
Mrs. Raines
Students in each grade level got to choose a song for the Dance Party, and teachers rock the gym with a surprise choreographed dance to "Party Rock Anthem."
The celebration ended with the song, "Lean On Me."
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