Sonnesyn Elementary Hosts ‘Bittersweet’ Celebration Before School Closes

No one can deliver excitement quite like an elementary school teacher. Nickie Hayes hosted a golf putting station with prizes at stake at Sonnesyn Elementary’s end-of-year carnival.

“Oh, you got a stuffed animal!” Hayes shouted excitedly to a student who hit a perfect putt.

Hayes, who teaches fourth and fifth-grade math at the New Hope school, said the May 15 carnival celebration is “bittersweet.”

“This school is just such an amazing place of community who work so well together,” said Hayes, taking a break from her volunteer duties. “No matter what comes our way, everybody steps in to support each other.”

The celebration is bittersweet because Sonnesyn Elementary will close at the end of the year. It’s one of four schools in the Robbinsdale School District that will shutter or be repurposed due to budget cuts and declining enrollment.

Families Reflect

Support from the school community is what some families have leaned on.

Kenosha Belton, a fifth-grade parent, enrolled her son at Sonnesyn Elementary this year.

“Our first year was a good experience. It was very nice. Haven’t had no bad problems or anything,” said Belton. “I like it here. It’s a nice community, too.”

Jessica Swanson had both of her children attend preschool at Sonnesyn.

“The staff here has been wonderful. Their preschool teacher, Ms. Sue Wilde, has been absolutely incredible the whole way through,” said Swanson. “It’s just really sad. The school has been great for both of my daughters.” 

For Adam Setten, the closure is particularly bittersweet. Like his son, who is wrapping up kindergarten, Setten also attended Sonnesyn.

“I remember my fourth-grade teacher Mr. Lindstrom. We had a hamster named Melvin. We hatched ducks,” Setten fondly remembered. “The countless memories you have from this place. It was cool.”

Setten, who moved his family back into the neighborhood, said he was excited for his son to experience everything he did.

“We just got to think about these kids and what’s best for them,” said Setten, who’s now waiting to hear where is son will attend next year after open enrolling him at Neill and Forest Elementary schools. “These kids are pretty resilient. They’ll roll with the punches and go on with the changes, but consistency is key.”

Sonnesyn students wore “Once a Bee, Always a Bee” t-shirts after their school mascot.

‘Hard Is Okay’

Mary Jane Adams never thought she would be leading a school that would be closing.

“It is sad to hear a school you’re leading is closing,” said Adams, who is finishing her fourth year as principal at Sonnesyn.

For Adams, her job is full circle. She started in the district as a Sonnesyn Elementary teacher.

“We’ve had families who have had students come through here one after another, and see this school close is hard because it’s become part of the fabric of their families,” said Adams.

Sonnesyn has experienced an enrollment decline. A total of 25o students from pre-K through fifth grade attend the school, which can hold up to 600.

“I understand the position that the district is in. I understand we cannot have schools not fully utilized,” Adams said. 

 Adams is treating the situation as a lesson in resilience.

“No matter what we’re doing we are always teaching kids. And so part of the thing that we have intentionally done at Sonnesyn is how to teach the kids a good goodbye,” said Adams. “It’s going to be hard, but that hard is okay, because transition is part of life.”

Principal Mary Jane Adams braces for a plate of whip cream to the face at May 15 carnival.

What Next

Sonnesyn students will be divided up to attend different schools next year. Families who live west of Highway 169 will be assigned to attend Zachary Lane Elementary in Plymouth. Those east of Highway 169 will go to Neill Elementary in Crystal. 

Like the school’s families, teachers are also preparing for what’s next. The good news: many Sonnesyn teachers were able to find other teaching jobs within the district.

“I think we’ve been fortunate in this situation that we’ve all been placed,” said Hayes.

The official last day of school at Sonnesyn Elementary is June 1.

Also see: Robbinsdale Board Votes To End Magnet Program at FAIR School Crystal

New Hope