Preschooler David Hotch, eighth-grader Natalia Holcomb and high school senior Rachel Katzeek graduated during a ceremony Friday at Klukwan School.
Speakers included Chatham School District superintendent Bernie Grieve, villager Jack Strong, longtime village resident Doris Peck and village council president Jones Hotch Jr.
“Everybody in the community showed up,” said lead teacher Kathy Carl.
In a speech, high school graduate Katzeek, 19, thanked her teachers and family members. “They pushed me when I had a hard time with doing schoolwork… Now I’m going to miss every single person that I met here at the school.”
A field day at the school Thursday included a tug-of-war, three-legged races, a water-balloon battle and barbecue.
The school has been busy, including celebrating the village’s “Culture Days,” May 10-11. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, fourth graders traveled to Glacier Bay National Park and students in grades 6-12 took a trip to Skagway’s Klondike National Park.
The year ended with 16 students enrolled in the school and an additional six in the school’s preschool program. “It was a good year,” said Carl. “We still have preschool openings for next year. (Chatham School District) is funding the preschool teacher and the program.”