On May 17th, 2016, the class of 2023 exited Morton Elementary School for the last time. This was not only their final day as Morton Bulldogs, but also the school’s last day of operation. In a small town like Hastings, the place a child attends grade school becomes an important part of his or her identity and sense of belonging. The school had been open since 1931, but was closed recently due to plans to update the Hastings Public Schools elementary buildings.
Hastings was faced with the choice of renovation of its neighborhood schools or construction of new attendance centers. The choice to close Morton led to mixed feelings for former Bulldogs. For the 2016-2017 school year the Alcott Elementary students will be shifted into the Morton building, but they will still be considered Alcott students. After renovations are finished on all of the other kindergarten-through-fifth-grade schools, the Morton building will most likely be used as a preschool. This leaves past students feeling a little down and disappointed, but they are left with lots of chances to reflect on happy memories.
To the kids who spent six years and what probably felt like countless days, Morton wasn’t just a school, it was their childhood and their second home.
“It seemed like it was a second family that was gigantic,” freshman Jacquelin Gutierrez Beahm said.
As anyone would do in this situation, students think back to their happy memories. Some thought of their teachers at Morton.
“I was a little upset to hear that Morton wasn’t going to be an elementary school anymore, but I was happy that the teachers all had their jobs here in Hastings,” senior Ryan Douglas said.
Another unique perspective came from junior Justise Propp who said, “It’s kind of cool because I was a part of Morton, and now it’s closed, so no one else can be added to it.”
Possibly the most upsetting aspect of the change was to families who consider themselves a Morton dynasty. This was the situation for junior Lauren Canady and freshman Grace Canady. Both were promoted from Morton, but one of their younger sisters did not get the same opportunity.
“It felt weird that my last little sister didn’t get to go all the way through,” Grace said.
She went on to say, “I was very upset because they could’ve picked any school and they had to pick Morton.”
The consensus is that even though it is hard to see a place with so many memories close its doors, it is uplifting to think about what the beautiful building has in store for it.
As junior Tavia Steenson said, “I’m happy that they’re reusing it as a preschool, and there will still be life in the building.”
The school will continue to produce happy memories for all who pass through its doors.
