Elijah Martin, a sixth grader at Clearfield Elementary School, rolls down the hill during the school's annual field day celebration Wednesday. The school is among five buildings in the Butler School District that will close next week as part of a consolidation plan.

CLEARFIELD TWP — Hundreds of students at Clearfield Elementary School spent the day running, laughing and learning about American Indian culture during annual field day celebrations Wednesday.

Students rotated among 15 stations set up outside for 15-minute increments, ranging from sledding, fishing and frisbee throwing on the cool, overcast day. But the event is also bittersweet for some: Clearfield Elementary is among five schools in Butler School District that will be closing next week.

“I went to school here, so it's a little sad to think of it closing,” said Wendy Hooks, a Clearfield parent whose daughter, McKenna, is in fourth grade. “Hopefully the atmosphere will carry through.”

She will miss the small, community feel of her elementary alma mater, but at the same time, she said she's optimistic the consolidation plan school board members approved last month is for the better.

“I think it'll be all right,” she said.

Rob Takacs, a fifth-grade teacher, has been at Clearfield for the past 12 years, and has spent 19 years in the school district.

“It is bittersweet because you develop a relationship with such a small community,” he said. “They all went on a trip to the junior high and they seem pretty excited about it.”

In addition to five of the district's 11 elementary schools closing, the remaining elementary schools will have a kindergarten through fourth grade configuration, while a newly formed middle school will house fifth and sixth graders at the junior high building downtown. Seventh through ninth graders and 10th through 12th graders will attend the intermediate and senior high schools, respectively.

One of Takacs' students, 11-year-old Abigail Bosco, is excited about a few things the new middle school will have to offer, including a wide variety of freshly made lunch foods and vending machines.

“There's just one thing every day here, and it's usually pretty icky,” Abigail said, noting she packs her lunch.

“It'll be better at the junior high,” said Hannah Beacon, one of her fifth grade classmates. “We'll have to get used to a bigger environment. And being in town.”

Abigail lives within walking distance of Clearfield Elementary, but her mother usually drives her to school. It's a 47-second commute, she said.

Friends play a big role in how students feel about the changes next year — for better and for worse.

“My favorite memories are meeting my friends,” said Ryder Kriley, 11. “I'm not really excited about not seeing my friends as much next year.”

Ryder is, however, excited about getting his own locker once he starts going to school at the middle school. His classmates Dylan Eisenhuth and Adam Bergbigler said they're looking forward to meeting new students and new teachers next year.

David McKinley, a sixth grade teacher, believes the district consolidation was the right decision for Butler.

“I think there needs to be a better balance” with smaller and larger classes between schools.

McKinley will be working at the middle school building this fall. He's optimistic the middle school principals have a good plan in place to emphasize STEAM concepts, short for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math, among other new programs.

“The scope and sequence that the middle school principals have ...” he said. “It seems like a step in the right direction.”