As you are all aware, Mrs. Saari is leaving us this year. We will all miss her terribly.
Mrs. Saari has worked in the Mascenic Regional School District for 42 Years. WOW!!!! That is amazing dedication. She has touched the lives of many members of the Mascenic Community. The HHES community had a plaque made dedicating the Storybook Trail to Mrs. Saari. The entire school of students and staff; SAU staff; school board members and family gathered together to honor Mrs. Saari on June 6th. Mrs. Wilkinson gave an eloquent speech which is modified below and the HHES PTA donated a tree in her honor. Additionally, the students made “storybook” pages with dedications to Mrs. Saari as well as a story for the Storybook Trail which she toured after the celebration.
We could not let Mrs. Saari walk into the sunset without publicly recognizing all that she has meant to countless generations of students, numerous staff, the communities of Greenville and New Ipswich and, of course, Highbridge Hill Elementary School which is truly, “The House that Mrs. Saari Built.”
The words: passionate, dependable, supportive, encouraging, respected, well-loved and “she had our backs” were the common descriptors when speaking with staff about the impact she had on their careers.
Marian Wright Edelman, founder and President of the Children’s Defense Fund, is quoted as saying, “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” That you have done, Mrs. Saari. That and more. Thank you!!
Mrs. Saari’s mantra she lived by was, “Is it what’s best for kids?” Many in education may give that phrase lip service, but not Mrs Saari. That simple phrase guided every single thing she did and every decision she made.
Today, June 6, 2022, eleven days before you walk out of Highbridge for the last time as our principal, we dedicate the Storybook Trail to you. This has been your baby since Day One. The Highbridge kids (YOUR KIDS) have a story on the trail that they would like you to read.
Click the link below to view some photos of the dedicaiton.
Mrs. Saari Storybook Trail Dedication Photos