Students at Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy stepped out of school and into summer Friday when they were dismissed from their last day of classes.

Principal Sally Meadors said 720 students at the Enota Avenue elementary school put another school year behind them as they boarded buses, loaded into cars, and walked home at noon.

Students in the Gainesville school system had an early-release day for their final day; Hall County students attended a full day.

Fifth-grade Enota students had mixed feelings about leaving elementary school behind and moving on to middle school. Sharia Jowers, 11, said she is looking forward to having more freedom in middle school.
"We're excited but we're also sad because we won't get to see our teachers," she said.

Emilie Gille, 11, said: "I will definitely miss recess. And a lot of people are not going to
survive without recess. But I probably won't be sad because I've been here for six straight years."

The fifth-graders said their proudest accomplishment this year was passing the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests. The annual standardized exams are required by the state of Georgia for first through eighth grades.

Outside, teachers gathered on the sidewalk and waved goodbye. As the buses went by, students stuck their arms out the windows and waved back, shouting goodbyes over the noise of honking bus horns.

Meadors said the last day held special meaning for her this year because she is retiring. "This is my last day as a principal, so that makes it extremely obvious to me how time has flown," she said.

It may seem to students as if time has flown this summer. Hall County and Gainesville students will return to classes on Aug. 7 after an 11-week summer vacation.