The gym at Phillips Elementary School was full to capacity on Friday afternoon for a very special celebration. Community members, family, friends, colleagues, students, and former students packed the house in honor of Margaret Huff, beloved kindergarten teacher in this community for 40 years.

Mrs. Huff, whose retirement began at the conclusion of school Thursday, was the last to enter the auditorium. As she came in at the end of the line formed by her current kindergarten class, she was greeted with a shout of “SURPRISE!” and a boisterous round of applause as those gathered stood in recognition of her many years of dedicated service to SAD 58 and the town of Phillips.

In keeping with a tradition set in the district over the past several years, Paul Gardiner, school board member, former co-worker, and close friend of Mrs. Huff, presented the honored guest with a rocking chair which he had made especially for the occasion. As Paul spoke, Dave Baker, director of facilities and transportation, and Betty White, custodian and bus driver, delivered the gift to Mrs. Huff, who enjoyed the rest of the celebration ensconced in this symbol of her retirement.

Another special gift was a framed painting featuring a tree, its branches intertwined to make a heart. Inside the heart was printed Margaret Huff, Phillips Elementary School, 1975-2015. Making the leaves with scores of brightly colored fingerprints placed there by the students at the Phillips school. This special project was organized by Amy Arms, occupational therapist, and Steve Mitman, art teacher.

Third grade teacher Tami Bredeau, who em-ceed the event along with Principal Jeff Pillsbury, shared some of Mrs. Huff’s favorite quotes from students, noting that “kids really do say the darndest things.”

One of the funniest stories shared Friday was that of the little fellow who came to school with the exciting news that his dad had shot a moose last night! Since one of the boy’s classmates just happened to be the child of a local game warden and there was no moose season at the time, Mrs. Huff tried to explain that it must have been a deer. The boy was adamant, though. He assured her, “No, no! It was a moose and it’s in our freezer now!”

Then came the section of the program during which each class shared a special offering, thus adding even more memories to the long list already kept in Mrs. Huff’s heart.

Under the direction of Amanda Wilkins and Melissa Galusha, grades K, 1, and 2 performed The A Tooty Ta Ta Song, one of Mrs. Huff’s favorite songs and a crowd pleaser, too, at many a talent show or other special event.

Remembering the annual celebrations of the 100th day of school, Mrs. Bredeau’s 3rd grade marched onto the floor, accompanying themselves with drums, horns, cymbals, tambourines, xylophones, bells, and maracas. When the line centered itself in front of the audience, the youngsters turned their backs to reveal a special message formed by the letters each one had taped to his or her back: MRS. HUFF IS THE BEST!

Dawn Maceda’s fourth grade was up next. They sang their own special rendition of another of Mrs. Huff’s favorites, Mud, Mud. However, the lyrics had been rewritten in keeping with day’s theme: “Huff, Huff, we love you Mrs. Huff. We’re absolutely, positively wild about you Mrs. Huff. We love you very much and we wish you lots of luck. Beautiful, fabulous, super-duper Huff!”

Tom Piekart’s fifth grade homeroom joined forces with Nicole Levesque’s seventh grade in a musical number, dancing and singing to “We Had the Time of Our Lives”, which ended with the presentation of “The Can” to Mrs. Huff. Inside The Can were notes to Mrs. Huff from 5th graders, who wrote about their favorite things about kindergarten and their favorite things about Mrs. Huff. “The Can” plays a special role in kindergarten life.

Students take turns taking it home with them and bringing it back with some unique item hidden inside. Whoever has charge of the can gives clues to classmates, who must try to guess the secret hidden inside.

Sixth graders (my homeroom) lined up before Mrs. Huff to present a banner which they designed. Each one had drawn and colored a letter from their message – “We’ll miss you.” – and surrounded it with their personal notes and illustrations of the memories they have of kindergarten with Mrs. Huff. Bridget Gusler, class secretary, read the messages and presented the banner to Mrs. Huff.

Benjamin Butterfield spoke on behalf of the eighth grade class, which had been in Quebec during the planning of the assembly. His remarks included the statement that “we’re really going to miss you. You started us off on the right foot.”

Not to be outdone, Ben’s little brother, Carter, from 3rd grade, also spoke, saying, “You really did start us off right. Mrs. Huff, you are one of a kind!”

To end the afternoon’s presentation, a slide show created by Mrs. Huff’s sister, Shelley Seavey, was played. It featured pictures of the 40 classes of kindergartners who have been instructed and inspired by Margaret Huff over the past four decades.

Finally, before the assembly adjourned for cake served by the C.A.R.E. PTO, Mrs. Huff came to the podium to express her thanks to one and all and let everyone know that she isn’t really retiring. She is moving on to her new career as the proud grammie of her new granddaughter, Kaitlynn.

Her sister Shelley assured us that Mrs. Huff will continue to be “an awesome teacher at home.”