Bidding farewell to Mahoning Elementary

Current and former Mahoning Elementary School teachers and students shared their fondest memories of the building Thursday night during a farewell open house.

Mahoning is one of four Lehighton Area School District elementary schools closing at the end of the 2017-18 school year, as students will transition to the new K-5 elementary center adjacent to the high school.

Vicky Kocher, kindergarten teacher, and Shirley Rodgers, first-grade teacher, said the event was a chance for alumni teachers and students to reminisce with each other and celebrate the history of Mahoning, established in 1954.

“It’s a bittersweet event in the sense that we’re glad to be moving on, but also sad to leave our smaller, close-knit building,” Rodgers said. “We’re hoping to carry those bonds over to the new building.”

Mahoning’s walls were filled with timelines from years gone by, including old newspaper articles, class photos and handwritten notes from students.

“In 2005, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary, and this week, our custodian unearthed a time capsule that was buried during that event, so we’re anxious to open that up and unveil its contents,” Kocher said.

Former teacher Marsha Long, who spent 15 years at Mahoning, made the trip from New York to say goodbye to the school.

“Mahoning is a great place and it’s like being part of a family,” Long said. “The staff here had such a great time together and we always had the students in our hearts. It was great to catch up with some of them tonight.”

Long referenced popular events like the “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” program, modeled after the television show.

“We did anything we could to combine learning with having a good time for our students,” Long said.

Mahoning also held its annual art show and book swap Thursday night.

The public will get a second chance to see Mahoning’s timeline, as the book swap will continue today from 5-7 p.m.