"Farewell to Hazel Grove" set for May 10

The end of the 2012-2013 school year means the end of an era for the current Hazel Grove Elementary School building in Kansas City, Kan.

Next school year, students will return to a brand new building, and the current structure will be no more.

Students and staff are anxiously anticipating their new space, but they want to honor the structure that has been home to them, and to so many community members, over the years. To say goodbye, staff, students and community members are invited to attend a “Farewell to Hazel Grove” celebration and open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 10. 

“There really is a strong sense of community in this area tied to the school, and we want to give people an opportunity to come by to walk the halls one more time and say goodbye,” said Principal Dee Dee Hines.

During the open house, visitors will have the opportunity to write their names and the dates they were associated with the school on a large sheet of paper. 

The paper will later be framed and placed in the new building. They also will be given purple markers (the school color) so they can write memories on the walls. The writings will be photographed so a collage or memory book can be made. 

Hazel Grove dates back to 1933, when the main building was constructed. It was named Hazel Grove because the site on which it was built was a former hazelnut grove. Today, one hazelnut tree still exists on the property.

Over the years, two more buildings were added to the campus. One building houses the gym and cafeteria, and the other, called the East Building, houses grades K-1.

The new two-story Hazel Grove building sits just southeast of the main building, on the former site of the baseball field. It is large enough to accommodate all students, classes and programs. The hazelnut theme will be carried throughout the school to honor the history of the site.