One year later: Barnsdall students end school year with gratitude and joy

Barnsdall students are wrapping up their school year with joy and sunshine this year. They didn't get to finish their school year in 2024 because a tornado devastated the town last May.

To mark the end of the school year, Barnsdall students are soaking in some fun complete with inflatable slides, outdoor games and temporary tattoos.

It's a day all the kids looked forward to.

"Just to have fun, hang out with my friends and be outside the classroom," said student Jade Gann.

Closing out the year is something they didn't get to do last May after a tornado destroyed much of the town.

Classrooms sat empty.

"What were we doing this time last year? We didn't get to do the all-sports banquet, we didn't get to do kindergarten graduation, graduation looked different. There was so many different things that we didn't get to do because the year ended, that we are really enjoying this year," Superintendent Sayra Bryant said.

But those same halls are now filled with laughter and healing. The focus now for teachers like Kamree Legg is not to forget what happened, but to help these kids build something new.

"Our big thing now is, you know, we want to build new memories instead of the memories from last year, we want happy memories for them to cling to," she said.

In this tight-knit community, it's all about perspective and a newfound appreciation for the ability to close out the year together.

"We are very, very grateful for the sunshine, we are very grateful to be here to be in school," Bryant said.

The official last day of school is next week, and as all kids do, they are counting down the days.

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