As students exited Newtown Middle School for dismissal on the last day of the 2015-16 school year, Monday, June 13, there were smiling faces, students running for their buses, and many teachers holding yellow paper smiley faces and waving goodbye.

"Have a great summer," one teacher said as students rode by in the buses leaving the lot.

Students were pushing themselves close to the bus windows and, sometimes, sticking their hands just outside to wave goodbye.

NMS teacher Andrew Tammero waved goodbye while wearing a lion costume, as a result of a fundraiser at the school for the Newtown Police Department's involvement in the Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. At NMS donations were collected as "votes" for teachers, and Mr Tammero won, earning the opportunity to dress like the school's mascot for the day.

"Bubbles!" one Hawley Elementary School student said, roughly an hour later, as that school dismissed for the year. Students ran or bounced through the bubbles blown for dismissal by office staffer Lisa Petrovich.

"Happy summer!" one student said to a teacher before jumping on the bus.

Principal Barbara Gasparine reported that at Head O' Meadow Elementary School, library/media specialist Beverly Bjorklund, language arts consultant Eileen Tabasko, physical education teacher Steven Dreger, math/science specialist Chrissie Pierce and math tutor Janet Graves held signs to let the students know, "We will miss you!"