FARMINGTON – As the time approaches for the wrecking ball to demolish the W. G. Mallett School next summer and the new elementary school to open next September, former teachers, community members and alumni are being asked to help plan a fitting farewell for the 80-year-old building.

The first pressing need, said Principal Tracy Williams, is to locate one good archival photo of the school in its heyday that can be reproduced on a commemorative mug and on T-shirts.

“If we can find one quickly, we can have the items ready for sale in time for the holidays,” Williams said Tuesday.

Williams may be reached at 778-3529.

Since Mallett was built in 1931, thousands of children have gone through its doors taught by hundreds of teachers. With so many people having some connection to the school, Williams hopes some will volunteer to contact alumni and help plan an all-day celebration Saturday, June 4.

The next planning meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, at the school. Ten people braved icy roads two weeks ago to attend the first meeting and more have told Williams they would like to help.

“We did some brainstorming at that meeting and have some rough ideas for subcommittees. There are a lot of former teachers still in the area who want to help and we hope to reach more people through Facebook to let them know about upcoming activities,” she said.

At the June event, there will be a display of memorabilia, everything from yearbooks to class photos and school books. There will be alumni-led tours of the old school, activities and games, food, and an alumni dance on the grounds. Any photos and documents brought can be scanned and the originals returned to their owners, she said.

Williams also hopes to raise about $7,000 through the sale of commemorative items and engraved bricks. Part of that money would be used to enhance the landscaping since the $18.9 million project, funded largely by the Maine Department of Education, calls for only eight trees and assorted shrubs.

Another add-on could be a climbing wall in the new gym built over a mural of Titcomb Mt. Ski Area in Farmington and Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley.