PAPILLION, Neb. (KMTV) — This unprecedented school year has ended, with classes being canceled and lot of students leaving behind important items.
In Papillion, Bell Elementary students got a last chance to pick up their belongings. It was a bittersweet end to the school year.
Student's locker items were bagged, and picked up as they said a last goodbye. More than 500 students and their families could only drive up and pick up their things.
"It's nice to be able to get the students together, but this is not how we had planned to end the year," said principal Mary Derby.
Organizing the drop off was hard, but not seeing each other for these past few months was even harder for some.
"I miss playing at school with my friends, but I liked being home and being home schooled," said one student, Conner Sylvan.
The situation did offer more quality time for families, even if it came with a few hiccups.
"It was challenging trying to time manage with two kids, different subjects, different times," said Conner's dad, Adam Sylvan. "But there was a lot of play time, PE class; it was rewarding at the end of the day."
Parents say they followed the lesson plans as best as they could, but this time also made them appreciate teachers a lot more.
"They definitely got shortchanged a lot," said Adam Sylvan. "It was definitely teacher appreciation; parents can teach, but I don't think we have the same communication methods teachers will have. They are professionals. It was definitely challenging."
A bittersweet ending to difficult end of school year.
"It's nice to be able to see them even from a distance from the car," said Derby.
Bell elementary will be holding virtual summer school.
