Most of Hawley Elementary School’s awards ceremony, held Tuesday, June 17, may have focused on the school’s students, but a special surprise for school’s retiring teachers and principal was held until the end of the event.

Fourth grade students at the school walked into the school’s gymnasium for the event wearing shirts that had the number “14” on the back, marking the students as soon-to-be-alumni.

Along with learning about C.H. Booth Library’s summer reading program thanks to a representative of the library, students also were honor with a range of awards.

Fourth graders Matthew Maher, Juan Mendez, Shannon Muckell, and Mason Woodard were presented with the Citizenship Award”

“Our teachers had a really hard time trying to identify just one student to be the recipient of our Citizenship Award,” Hawley Principal Jo-Ann Peters-Edmondson said.

Students were also recognized for art accomplishments, participating in the school’s chorus, and geography program, along with other efforts during the event.

The end of the assembly held a surprise for Ms Peters and other retiring Hawley educators. According to music teacher Brian Kowalsky, Natalie Merchant’s song “Kind & Generous” was sung by the entire school to honor the retiring educators.