Washington Elementary School in Anoka was the first of eight Anoka-Hennepin schools to hold its closing celebration. The schools will close at the end of the school year due to declining enrollment and the need to use district resources more efficiently. Washington's hallway, cafeteria and media center were crowded March 25 with current and former school families who gather to honor the school that connected them all. They viewed displays, toured the building, listened to the music of the Anoka High School Jazz Band, and more. Cathy (Davidson) Witte came with her parents, Carol and John Davidson, and her children, Josh, a kindergartner at Rum River Elementary and 20-month-old Cate. They enjoyed paging through old yearbooks and showing Josh pictures of his mom as an elementary school student. Mrs. Davidson recalled her role in starting the first PAW group - Parents at Washington - while Witte spoke with fondness of her favorite teacher, Mrs. Semanko, who came to her wedding and stopped by to visit when Cate and Josh were born. "She was wonderful. She made kids feel really special," said Witte. Former Washington physical education teacher, Dean Hamre, visited with his daughter, Tanya Prahl, and two grandchildren. All three of Hamre's children attended Washington and two of his grandchildren will go to sixth grade in the building when it becomes the sixth-grade campus for Fred Moore and Sandburg Middle Schools, which will combine next year when Sandburg closes. They were pleased that Washington will remain in use as a school, even if it is no longer an elementary school. Prahl said she enjoyed attending Washington as a youngster and having her dad as her physical education teacher. "We had great opportunities. I remember the book fairs and the Pyramid Club, which was for kids who were ready for more challenging work," she said. She also has great memories of her principal, the late Peter Enich. "Students could go and read to him in his office. I remember being excited but also a little nervous to go visit the principal." Community members are invited to attend the school closing celebrations for the remaining schools, which will all be held Saturday, May 1. Call the school for more information.
Photo caption: An attendee at the Washington Elementary School March celebration
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school memorabilia.
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Celebrating a school and its history is bittersweet. Former
students and teachers reconnect with old friends and trade stories with current
staff. They chuckle over their appearance in old photos and take one last look
at a place where they spent many happy days. It's an atmosphere of fun tempered
with a bit of sadness over the loss of a familiar friend, their school.