LECK KILL - The Leck Kill Elementary School's May Day program featuring a group of baby birds preparing for the world outside their nest can easily be related to current events in the Line Mountain School District. With only a month before the small school in the small village closes , the teachers and parents have been preparing for the next chapter.
They can check off one more final bittersweet moment with this Thursday's last May Day Celebration.
"It's going to be emotional for some. It's always been a community event," said Kristy Boyer, Leck Kill Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) treasurer.
She was helping the students Tuesday afternoon in a practice session for "Tweet," an operetta about birds that will feature all 61 Leck Kill students in first through fourth grade.
The program has been an important part of the Leck Kill community for at least 50 years and has roots in the district as far back as the 1940s, said second-grade teacher Roy Casey, 56.
"It's been a long time. It's going to be a little sad when it's done," Casey said, noting his mother told him stories, he was involved when he was still in school and he has been helping to coordinate the events since he started teaching at the school 35 years ago.
Boyer said the event is about community.
"We bring people together and have a good time. We teach the kids they can do things together. We teach the kids that service is important," she said.
May Day has historically raised money for the PTO, but this year, the money will go to fund a farewell picnic set for May 24. Any leftover funds will be put into funding the joint elementary school fund that will consist of the former Leck Kill, Dalmatia and Trevorton school PTOs.
Boyer said the PTO has traditionally placed a lot of effort into planning events, but they have relinquished some of the responsibilities in these last few months in order to spend more time with the children.
The current district plan is to have the elementary schools in Leck Kill and Dalmatia close at the end of the school year. All students in grades kindergarten through fourth will attend classes at Trevorton, where an addition is being constructed. An addition is also being built to the seventh- and eighth-grade wing at the junior/senior high school in Mandata to accommodate the fifth and sixth graders.
Boyer said it was discussed among the Leck Kill PTO members to continue the May Day celebration, but they probably won't because the number of students once the schools are combined might prove to be too much.
The event will start at 3:45 p.m. Thursday with games and a photobooth. The Leck Kill Alumni Band, which is comprised of high school students who attended Leck Kill, will play at 5:45 p.m. The musical will begin at 6 p.m. and last for approximately 45 minutes. Everyone is welcome to attend, and there will be door prizes given out.
The PTO is also raising money by selling commemorative crocks for $22 with a picture of the school, name, location and dates of existence. For more information, call the school at 425-3671.