By Jill Sperling

Students, teachers bid farewell to school for the summer

Jun 29, 2016 | 4:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — Students in Kamloops spent the day cleaning out lockers, saying goodbye to classmates, and dreaming of summer vacation plans on the last day of school. 

With excitement and a few tearful goodbyes the students packed up their things and left the halls of Pacific Way Elementary for the last time this school year.

It was a bitter-sweet moment for many, bidding farewell to teachers and friends as they trade in their textbooks for swim suits and bike rides.

WATCH: Full report by Jill Sperling

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For principal Jake Schmidt, it was a day to stand back and admire how far his students have come. 

“It’s kind of an exceptional day where that growth and what you’ve seen through the whole year, this is the pinnacle of that,” Schmidt said. “So this is that final day where you’ve looked at the child and you’re just going ‘what an amazing year’. It’s really nice to see that growth throughout the year, and we’re here at the end and there’s that long journey, and we’re kind of looking forward to next year, but really happy about the successes of this year.” 

While Schmidt is looking forward to another school year, it won’t be at Pacific Way. He will be going to Dallas Elementary in the Fall. 

“It is hard to leave a school and go to another one,” Schmidt said. “As a principal it’s kind of what happens. You come to a school for a few years and then you move on to the next one. So in a way it’s really exciting to go and meet a new bunch of kids and a new bunch of parents and get involved with their community. It is also sad to leave this community, this is where my children went to school. It’s been an exceptional three years that I’ve been here.”

At the school’s final assembly of the year, staff and students displayed their appreciation for the outgoing principal, honouring him with a standing ovation. 

As the final school bell rang parents were ready to have their kids back at home for the summer, and students were excited to be taking a nice long break from homework.