Sugarcreek Elementary bids farewell to students, staff
SUGARCREEK TWP, Armstrong County — Students and staff at Sugarcreek Elementary School were sent off Wednesday to enjoy the summer and prepare for the 2024-25 school year at a new setting.
The annual sixth-grade promotion and end of year award program was held for the 184 students in kindergarten through sixth grades who will attend Chicora Elementary School in Butler County next year after Sugarcreek closes following the last day of classes Thursday. Many parents and family members also attended the program.
The Karns City Area School District is completing a $24-million renovation and expansion of Chicora Elementary to accommodate the students from Sugarcreek.
The Armstrong School District built the original part of Sugarcreek Elementary in 1953 and completed an addition and renovation project in 1973. The Karns City Area School District acquired the school in 1993, and classes started in 1994 when that area of Armstrong County became part of the school district.
Principal Jeff Wagner told students and staff that he looks forward to seeing them next year in Chicora, thanked parents for supporting the school and thanked nine retiring teachers and staff members for their service.
“Continue to challenge yourself to do your best,” Wagner said to the sixth graders.
David McElroy, a sixth-grade teacher who is retiring after working with nine different principals during his 31 years of service, also wished good luck to students and staff next year at Chicora.
“Wonderful things went on within these walls,” McElroy said.
Thirty-three sixth-grade students in two classes were promoted to seventh grade, and students in all grades received awards for various accomplishments including perfect attendance, A grades, art and music and good citizenship.
Student choice awards were given for the best dressed, most athletic, friendliest, most helpful, most mathematic, best bookworm, most versatile, most likely to be a teacher, best historian, best scientist, most positive and most improved.
The retiring employees are fifth-grade teacher Joseph Schumacher, fourth-grade teacher Patrick Preston, second-grade teacher, Terri McElroy, first-grade teacher DeAnn Pistorius, music teacher Dorinda Aigner, secretary Stephanie Markle, health technician Debra Bossinger and custodian Clair Pistorius.
