Moving up at East Lake and Lockhart

No more pencils no more books!

Elementary school students in the Massapequa school district  headed away from their studies and into summer vacation on Friday. In many cases, they were saying goodbye to the buildings that have been their second homes for up to seven years.

Earlier this week, Lockhart and East Lake Elementary school held moving  up ceremonies to honor the achievements of graduating students.

The Lockhart ceremony was the last one presided over by Lori Dano.  The outgoing principal told the student body how proud she was of them and urged them to continue their hard work to make family and friends proud.

Pride was a major theme of the ceremony as fifth grade students performed the Taylor Hicks song "Do I make you Proud," in sign language for the graduating class. The sixth graders performed Irving Berlin's "An Old Fashioned Wedding" and "Look to the Rainbow" from the Broadway show "Finian's Rainbow."

East Lake principal Thomas McKillop called the day "the culmination of hardwork, dedication and determination" on the part of students.

He praised the work of retiring assistant principal Loretta Weber, who told those assembled that it was "an emotional day" for her.

"My years at East Lake have been amazing," she said.

School Superintendent Charles Sulc, told students it was " a day to celebrate, to reflect on, and to enjoy."  He asked students to thank their relatives for being their first teachers and also urged them to thank East Lake's staff.

Sulc closed by advising the students to make the most of their success.

"Success is not something that just happens to you," he said. "Success is learned, practiced and shared.