Pleasant View Elementary’s school community is experiencing a mix of emotions as news unfolds about the school closing and which school students will be attending next year.
There’s “sadness at the loss of our community and the relationships we have developed over the years,” Principal Janace Fischer said. But there’s also “some excitement about the new opportunities and friends that await them.”
Gabrielle Kelly, 11, is a fifth-grader and has attended Pleasant View for seven years, since she was a preschooler. She says Pleasant View is a fun school, it is close to her house and all her teachers are nice.
“I will miss all my friends that will be in different places next year,” she said. “I guess at my new school I will meet some new teachers and friends, but it won’t be the same.”
School staff is conducting a number of activities to support the transition process for students and parents. Community meetings have already taken place, and open houses at Shelton and Welchester elementaries are planned for the near future. Kyffin Elementary, near Green Mountain, also will hold an open house. Students could choose to attend there through the district’s choice enrollment program.
On May 8, all Pleasant View students will visit their new schools. And in June, summer school will take place at Shelton and Welchester.
The hope is that students can make friends and become acquainted with the new buildings before school starts in August, Fischer said.
Jessica Estes, a parent of two children who attend Pleasant View, faces commuting issues next year. Estes drives her children to school, which only takes about five minutes.
Her oldest son will attend Bell Middle School next year, so Estes has chosen Shelton for her daughter Alexia, who is going into the second grade. However, if she is not accepted, she will attend Welchester.
“If Alexia attends Shelton, it would be a straight shot,” Estes said. “If I have to pick her up from Welchester, it’s one way to Bell then the complete other direction to Welchester.”
Estes has been talking with Alexia and explaining that some of the friends she has made at Pleasant View will be at different schools next near. But she keeps the conversation positive, Estes said.
“Whichever school she ends up at, she will make friends,” Estes said. “Also, a new building may be scary at first, but I tell her to look at it like an adventure — she gets to explore and discover a new school.”
