Leslie McFarlane will close its doors for good on Friday
Jun 23, 2009 - 01:56 PM
By Parvaneh Pessian
WHITBY -- When Jessie McLellan began writing her speech as valedictorian at Leslie McFarlane Public School, she was struck by feelings of both happiness and sadness.
As the memories began flooding back, she realized her words wouldn't just be significant among her peers but would hold special meaning for the hundreds of staff, students and families watching the school's final graduating class take the stage.
While students across the region pack up their books and get ready to plunge into summer break, the end of the school year is bittersweet for everyone at Leslie McFarlane. The site, located just north of Hwy. 2 at 300 Garden St. in Whitby, will be closing its doors for good on Friday.
Jessie said she feels fortunate for the opportunity to stay at the school long enough to be part of the final graduating class but is also overwhelmed with despair at the thought of its closing.
"It's really a tight-knit group at the school where you feel like you're part of a family," she said, adding that her mother also attended Leslie McFarlane decades ago when it was known as Whitby Senior.
"When you walk through the doors, you feel like you belong."
Leslie McFarlane is one of three Whitby schools, the others being Florence M. Heard and Palmerston, that are slated to close after a Durham District School Board school accommodation review committee decided necessary repairs are just too expensive.
The closing of the Leslie McFarlane is fitting for teacher Jon Patte, who will be retiring this year from a 30-year career and is proud to call Leslie McFarlane his last school.
"What a way for me to go out knowing everything I do about this special place and yet, I still have a real sadness for the whole situation, knowing the families of this community and the students as well," he said.
"There's no place like Leslie McFarlane for them and it's going to be a very new, different situation in September."
Most of the students at the location will be transferred to Pringle Creek Public School while a new school is built at the Leslie McFarlane site.
The school will be holding its closing ceremonies on Thursday, June 25, welcoming former staff, students and any members of the public interested in remembering the role the Leslie McFarlane has played in the community throughout the past 40 years.
Principal Jim Olson said the school's success, from academic achievements to athletic prowess, can be attributed to the combined efforts of everyone who has ever passed through its doors.
"The sense of community here has been marvellous," he said, adding that hundreds are expected to attend the ceremonies, beginning with a meet and greet with cake and refreshments at 4 p.m., followed by a presentation in the gymnasium at 5:30 p.m.
"It's a great community school and we're sorry to see it go."
Call: 905-668-6846
E-mail: lesliemcfarlane_ps@durham.edu.on.ca
Visit: http://lesliemcfarlane.ddsbschools.ca/
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