Saying goodbye to DR-M

By ANDREA FURLONG

After completing the first leg of the eight-mile relay to English Valleys, DR-M Principal Rhoda Harris hands off the DR-M plaque, stored in a bookbag, to DR-M student Tanner Icenbice May 26.  (Left) DR-M student Maggie Anthony sits on the school’s jungle gym, while Katie Clabaugh, Maria Van Dee and Cole Cameron are content hanging around.

Deep River-Millersburg Elementary students arrived their last day of school Tuesday, May 26, to signs made by former DR-M students Megan and Tiffany Rodgers commemorating the event. The school district will reorganize with the English Valleys School District effective July 1.

In 1958, two districts facing declining enrollment resulting in declining dollars (Deep River and Millersburg) merged to form the Deep River-Millersburg School District. Fifty years later, DR-M is reorganizing again for the same reasons, forming a union this time with the English Valleys School District.

Deep River-Millersburg Elementary’s 50th anniversary is a bittersweet one. Instead of celebrating the school’s past 50 years, DR-M students spent their final day of school, Tuesday, May 26, savoring their last moments at DR-M, while looking ahead to their future at English Valleys.

School officials paved the way for positive memories of DR-M’s last day with free ice cream treats and grilled hamburgers, along with games of kickball. Younger students joyfully played outside on the playground, while a couple of busloads of English Valleys students and teachers arrived to help the older DR-M students empty out classrooms. In an hour’s time, the students had packed the trailer full of chairs, books and other school supplies. The rest would have to be left behind for retrieval later this summer.

English Valleys eighth grader Ella Meyer, was one of many former DR-M students who came back to the K-6 school to help on the last day. Meyer said it was important to her to be present, even though it was somewhat difficult.

 “When I walked in there today, I remembered all those years that I was (at DR-M). Normally, I don’t remember them unless I’m there. (It was) just a little hard,” she said. “It was fun to have everybody help move out, but it was kind of sad to see it all go.”

DR-M Principal Rhoda Harris acknowledged Tuesday was different than past times DR-M has closed for summer break.

“Generally the last day of the school year kids are kind of busy getting ready for school to dismiss . . . but for us this day meant that we were getting things packed up so we could ready for that transition — that move from DR-M to English Valleys,” Harris said.

While DR-M’s school equipment is just beginning to be moved to English Valleys, the two school districts included students in an event symbolic of the schools’ merger to give DR-M students closure. More than 20 DR-M Elementary students and former DR-M students now at EV volunteered to run a leg in a relay following the eight-mile route separating the two schools, with their peers cheering them on with the DR-M fight song.

Instead of a baton, students passed a piece of DR-M between them — a plaque made as a memorial to DR-M to be placed inside English Valleys High School. The plaque marked the 50 years DR-M thrived, accompanied by a Dr. Seuss quote that DR-M Elementary has adopted as its motto in the wake of the reorganization: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Principal Harris said the quote is very fitting for DR-M’s circumstances.

“DR-M is a small district, but it has a rich history behind it which makes it difficult to give up, but at the same time we’re looking to the future . . . and want our kids to go on at English Valleys,” she said.

Though some of the English Valleys students to run the plaque last attended DR-M two or more years ago, they said the relay was a significant event that they wanted to be included in.

“I really liked English Valleys and I kind of wanted to help DR-M be remembered. DR-M was my home for a long time,” Meyer said.

EV sophomore Taylor Grimm, who ran the last leg of the relay to English Valleys High School (joined by many other students) also said his strong ties to DR-M motivated his participation in the event.

“It was really important because all those years coming up through elementary you form a really good bond with the school and the teachers that are there, and when it’s closing down it really hits home. It’s just kind of depressing to see one of your childhood memories close down,” he said.

Principal Harris and EV High School Principal Garrick Teckenburg both said the running of the plaque communicates a positive message to students, emphasizing the unification of the two districts, rather than the loss of one.

“I just think it was more like a passing of the torch from the DR-M community to the English Valleys community. It really signified the closing of their school . . . and that they’re all coming together here now,” Principal Teckenburg said.

YOUNG DR-M STUDENTS’ THOUGHTS

While DR-M students are accustomed to leaving the school after the sixth grade to continue their education at English Valleys or Montezuma High School, it is the younger DR-M students, fifth grade on down through preschool, who will be uprooted by the reorganization.

Deep River-Millersburg third grader Payton Gerard said he is somewhat scared to attend a new school next year.

“I don’t know as many kids (at English Valleys). The school’s a lot bigger,” he said.

At DR-M, where the student body numbered below 50, Gerard shared a classroom with his entire grade, a total of eight students. In comparison, English Valleys Elementary classrooms have approximately 20 to 25 students, with around 50 students per grade.

DR-M third grader Katie Clabaugh said she also has some fears about attending a larger school next year.

 “I’m kind of scared and nervous because there are going to be lots more people there than at DR-M. I’m really sad because I will miss this school. It’s so fun because you get to do more exciting things because we have a smaller school,” she said.

Sydnie Stephenson, a sixth grader, said while running in the relay helped her feel “more welcome to the new school,” the transition is hard for her as she leaves behind the school she’s known for the last six years.

“I wish I could still be at DR-M,” she said.

THOUGHTS FROM THE STAFF

Students aren’t the only ones who are finding it hard to say goodbye to DR-M. Chris Montross, the fifth grade teacher at DR-M, said he will miss the family atmosphere he’s been a part of for the past 11 years.

“There were no strangers. Everybody was like family, you could almost say. I will miss the togetherness of the staff, the kids . . . everybody,” he said. “It’s sad that it’s going. I hope everybody knows what we did for the community and how much we cared for it.”

Brenda Van Dee, one of the longest-serving staff members who worked 29 years at the school as a secretary, said she will also miss the “family atmosphere” of the small elementary school, along with the kids who roamed its halls every day.

“I liked the school atmosphere. Just being around the kids is what I liked the most,” she said.

Principal Harris said while the closing of DR-M School is hard for both staff members and students, she hopes the students will take with them to their new school the many memories and friendships they’ve formed while at DR-M.

“I think they’ll hold onto the memories that they have, the friendships they’ve developed with their classmates, the closeness that they have and the small family atmosphere. They’ve all gotten individual attention. It really is a place for everyone to belong for students and faculty members. It is a place where everyone is accepted, and I think they’ll treasure that,” she said.

Though it was decreasing student numbers that led DR-M to consider reorganization one year ago, the small student numbers are what helped define the atmosphere and uniqueness of DR-M Elementary, according to Principal Harris.

“To me, it’s just the perfect place to begin a child’s education . . . to know they will get that individual attention . . . and to know that will help them on the road to success,” she said.

The Deep River-Millersburg School District will officially reorganize with the English Valleys School District July 1. The future of the DR-M school building is uncertain at this point, but it will not be used as a school by the new district.

While the majority of DR-M students will be reorganized into the English Valleys School District, some living in Poweshiek County will be adjoined to the Montezuma School District. 

For more photos of DR-M’s last day, please visit http://npic.dotphoto.com.

 

UPDATED May 29, 2009 4:05 PM