The living is easy

School bells around the Valley sounded for the last time this academic year as throngs of students made their way into the summer sunshine Thursday, June 19.

School bells around the Valley sounded for the last time this academic year as throngs of students made their way into the summer sunshine Thursday, June 19.

Students were all smiles on the last day of school, joking, hugging and goofing around. There were yearbooks to sign and summer plans to share.

Awards ceremonies honoring academic achievement and service to the school marked the day at Opstad Elementary School.

At Mount Si High School, a long line of buses filed out of the parking lot filled with students and honking their horns in celebration of the beginning of summer.

Mount Si student Ingrid Beattie couldn’t wait to start her summer backpacking trip on the coast, while Chad Billings was ready to kick back and relax. Sleeping in, parties and summer work were among other students’ plans for the break.