GALLERY: Last day ever at Independence school

It's the last day of school for Independence students -- but more than that, it's the last day of classes at the district's East Elementary School.

School board members voted earlier this year to close the kindergarten through second grade school.

Closing East is just one part of a district realignment that will be in place for the 2010-11 school year. Here's the lineup for next year:

• East Elementary School: Closed
• West Elementary School: Will be re-named East Elementary School and will house kindergarten through second grade students.
• Independence Middle School: It will be renamed West and will house third through sixth grade students.
• The district's seventh and eighth grade students will move up to Independence High School, which will be renamed Independence Jr.-Sr. High School.

There are celebrations at each site to recognize the last day of school and build excitement for next year's changes. At East, this includes the school's physical education teacher, Brian Loughren, and counselor Julie Rouse being hit in the face with pies by the school's Mileage Club star students.

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