Former and current students and staff boogied down to dance music while the audience enjoyed cake and other goodies.
With the school closing in a few short days, the PTO planned the celebration event to reunite former and current students, staff, and parents for a chance to share photos and memories together.
Greg Harley, a past teacher for 12 years at Ridgecrest, drove more than five hours with his two children to come celebrate Ridgecrest with his old employees and students.
“It’s always great coming home,” Harley said. He began his 22 years of teaching students at Ridgecrest before moving to a different school in Tenn.
Students were able to flip through current and older yearbooks in the library. Some of the yearbooks dated back to the 1930s. Although the actual date of the school opening is not known, the land was deeded to the school board during the 1920s for educational purposes.
In the midst of dancing to the Tootsie Roll, eating snow cones, and reminiscing, a group of young students were raising money for a boy’s family who has recently died because of a rare brain tumor.
Gavin Jones was nine years old, they explained, when he died. They made bracelets to sell in order to raise money for his family’s funeral expenses and medical care. While children and adults danced to songs from a different generation, these four girls stood outside selling their handmade bracelets in order to help a family they didn’t even know.
“We made bracelets to help raise money for his family,” said nine-year old Sarah Coble.
Marilyn Cook the secretary of Ridgecrest admired what the children at the school had been doing for the family.
“Our children learned about him and even though he did not attend our school, they cared,” Cook said. “Several classes made cards and mailed them to him.”
The night was a bittersweet one for all who attended, but a success nonetheless.
“I am very sad the school is closing… I think it was an amazing event. Our PTO did a great job,” Cook said.