When Cooleemee Elementary School reaches the last days of its school year, excitement begins to fill the air.
The Cooleemee Fire Department has shown great pride in the younger generation at the school by teaching fire safety tips. Chief Velvet Hackett, Captain Ryan Hall, and Lieutenant Austin Sreidt served lunch to the kids for a couple of hours and then talked about fire safety. They read several books and answered questions. On that same day, they helped with car riders by opening car doors and talking with the kids.
The Fire Department raises its firehose every year so the kids can run around, get wet, splash in a mud puddle, scream, holler, and have loads of fun. Physical education teacher Russell Hilton set up kickball pools, so another way to get wet was also fun.
Many special events were held before the last bell rang.
There were 70 fifth-grade students this year, and getting a picture of them around the birthday rock was special.
Congratulations, fifth graders!