06/17/2026
Today, someone will turn off the lights at Mittineague Elementary School for the very last time after these remaining students leave.
Field day shirts on and being signed from friends, teachers, and staff. A special sign made by a parent for the last day. A dunk tank on the pavement for dunk Pescitelli, (who also kissed a pig and was pied in the face) painted rocks on the garden picnic table and all the additional memories of today to take with them.
Tomorrow, teachers will continue to pack up their classrooms. Please take a moment. Pause. Sit in the silence and remember all the moments those four walls witnessed, the nervous first days, the laughter, the tears, the lessons learned, the friendships made, the celebrations, and the children whose lives were forever changed because of you.
For 156 years, these hallways have had the sounds of footsteps racing to class, concerts and assemblies, artwork proudly displayed on the walls, teachers dressed as rock stars, a special Elf, a fluffy Turkey, crazy hair days, PBIS prizes, Yoga, to all the trunk or treats, the pajama days, crazy hair days, Read Across America, the Lee Lang luncheons started by Lucille Magni in 1998, 5th grade celebrations, dances, movie nights, girls on the run, our special garden, the William J Murray scholarship fund in honor of his 37 years of teaching at Mittineague school, the friendship bench, Mrs. Doe’s special bench in her honor by the playground, the list is miles long. All the generations of students creating memories that will live on long after this building closes.
The handprints on the walls will remain. The murals, the paintings, and the beautifully decorated steps celebrating authors and books will stay behind. But what we carry with us is far greater. We take the memories, the friendships, the unwavering fight to save our school, and the determination to ensure Mittineague’s story was honored until the very end. We will remember the joy of welcoming an alpaca , sharing laughter and tears over barbecue and ice cream, celebrating with alumni and families, bubbles, face paint, special songs, hearing the history of our school, a recreation of our special tree and cut out handprints with special messages. These moments prove that this little place we all love had a heart far bigger than its walls.
♥️To every principal, teacher, paraprofessional, secretary, custodian, cafeteria worker, specialist, administrator, and even our beloved furry mascot, THANK YOU! You made this building so much more than bricks and handprints. You made it a home.
As you walk out these doors today, know that you are not leaving empty handed. You carry with you thousands of smiles, countless memories, and a piece of every child whose life you helped shape. Those gifts will follow you wherever your next chapter begins.
Today may bring tears, but tomorrow brings new beginnings. May your next classrooms be filled with the same love, kindness, and dedication that made Mittineague so extraordinary.
A school may close, but its legacy never does.
💙To our new alumni students, the classes of Mitt 2026.
As you walk into new schools this fall, know that you are carrying a piece of Mittineague with you. The kindness you learned here, the friendships you made, the confidence you found, and the memories you created will always be part of who you are.
It may feel scary to start somewhere new, and it’s okay to be sad. Being sad simply means something was worth loving. 💙
Never forget where your story began. Be kind. Be brave. Welcome the next new student the way you hope to be welcomed. Shine your light wherever you go, and know that no matter where life takes you, you will always have the people that first believed in you.
You are the final chapter of a remarkable 156 year story. What an incredible honor that is. Now it’s your turn to write the next chapter, and always remember to, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”
To all our past and present PTO members and families who made all these memories possible by countless fundraisers and efforts to support our school. Thank you.
Thank you, Mittineague Elementary School for 156 unforgettable years.
Once a Mitt family, always a Mitt family. 💙🤍🐾 IYKYK
