As students and staff played games and engaged in artistic activities, many looked back on the year with fondness at the growth of students and eagerness to see how students take their next steps.

Miller Middle School

There was also some sadness as people remembered the death of four students – Adrian Lara, 13; Isaac Lara, 16; Linette Lopez, 15; and Yanitza Lopez, 17. All four students died in a November car accident. In front of Miller Middle School, a student remembered Adrian with some sidewalk chalk art.

Miller Middle School Language Arts instructors Valerie Daters and Morgan Hurst said the accident was the biggest challenge of the 2022-23 school year.

“A lot of our students never had to experience that before,” Daters said. “It makes me emotional just to think about it. To navigate that with them was eye-opening.”

However, they also looked upon the year fondly. Hurst said the school year end was bittersweet as she will miss her students.

“I’m excited to see the eighth graders go to high school, where they go and end up. They all have bright futures, and I am proud of them,” Daters said.

Both teachers praised their students for the relationships built, and the strong communication between the youth and the staff.

“I feel lucky to be able to choose to come here every day,” Hurst said. “Middle school is not always roses and butterflies and unicorns, but at the end of the day, I leave fulfilled, and feeling like I am making a difference with the kids in our community.

Miller Middle School eighth graders Lauren O’Neal and Emma Stupp were excited about the next chapter of their school careers.

“Overall, it’s been a good year and the teachers have done amazing,” Stupp said. “The atmosphere here is so uplifting. Being the end of the year, I am sad because I am saying good-bye to teachers and friends, but there are good things ahead.”

Reminiscing about the year, O’Neal said the highlight was a trip to Junior Achievement in Des Moines.

“It was a good experience because we got to learn what it was like managing money,” she said. “Thanks to all the teachers for the past two years. They have helped us grow, not only as students, but as people.”

For Stupp, the highlight was the creation of a new atmosphere between the end of seventh grade and the beginning of eighth.

“Congrats to all the eighth grade student body for moving on to the high school. I’m proud of all of us,” she said.

Lenihan Intermediate

Lenihan Intermediate Principal Kyle Young said students participated in plenty of fun activities on the last day.

“They’re ending the year on a high note,” he said.

The best aspect of the 2022-23 school year for Young was all of the students who walked through the halls and sat in the classrooms.

“Each student has experienced success this year,” he said. “Getting a chance to support that success, getting a chance to experience it with them, setting them up for their next chapters is super fulfilling. That’s the thing I am most proud of for this year.”

Two such Lenihan students were fifth graders Letty Perry and Trae Rosedale who spent the last two days of the school year engaging in dodgeball, a paper airplane contest, a dance, a talent show, making ice cream and enjoying bubbles. They were excited about the end of the year, but sad to see it go.

“I will miss it, but I want to go to sixth grade,” Rosedale said.

“Yeah. Fifth grade is fun,” Perry agreed.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.