Farewell to Smith Road Elementary

Students and staff said goodbye June 15, 2011, to Smith Road Elementary in Temperance, Mich., which Bedford Public Schools is closing as part of a cost-saving plan. CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO VIEW FULL IMAGE, START SLIDE SHOW.

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Students and staff at Smith Road Elementary School in Temperance, Mich., release hundreds of balloons during a special good-bye ... THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Taylor Fordham, 6, a first-grader at Smith Road Elementary School, watches balloons float to the sky. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Sixth-graders including, from left, Morgan Moore, Jada Jones, and Lexi Steinmetz, sing "So Long, Farewell" during a school closing ... THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Principal Carol Perz addresses students and staff. "This school is like family," she said later. "We are very close." THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo School volunteer Dave Siravo, of Toledo, reads a poem he wrote called "My Children" to the last classes at Smith ... THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Smith Road Principal Carol Perz embraces Dave Sirava after he read a poem during the goodbye ceremony. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Principal Carol Perz gives students a thumbs up as students and staff bid farewell to Smith Road Elementary. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Jenn Scally, a parent of two students at Smith Road Elementary, wipes a tear. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Beth Johnston, a third-grade teacher at Smith Road Elementary, comforts students Clara Gill, 9, left, and Daelyn Perez, 9. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Principal Carol Perz autographs a student's shirt following a special goodbye ceremony at Smith Road Elementary School. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY