Chapelle Elementary fourth-grader Kelly Davis experienced one of the unique Chapelle moments on April 1 that she'll miss most with the school's closing.

Joe Guillen, the building’s principal, gathered a group of kids outside for a “200 ticket party,” a reward for students who earn 200 tickets for good behavior throughout the year.

This year, Guillen told the children what Davis described as a scary but fun story - of course, to the kids’ delight, one that ended with a shout of “April Fool’s!”

“The story was interesting and scary,” Davis said. “Mr. Guillen always does fun stuff.”

Davis recounted the day at one of the Chapelle community’s last events together on Wednesday - a barbecue on the school’s playground attended by hundreds of current students, former students, family members and friends.

School let out at Chapelle and East Middle School for good on Friday as part of the district's realignment plan.

A steel band supplied the music and there was plenty of laughter, but many expressed disappointment over their school closing.

Guillen said the barbecue was like many other large, family-oriented events that made families feel like they belonged to something special. But at the same time, he said, he has mixed feelings given the circumstances.

“A night like tonight is fantastic,” he said. “But this year, knowing that we’re not coming back and the kids are going separate ways, it has been a lot to sort out.”

Sue Fenker, a Chapelle teacher who has been at the school since 1986, said she is retiring rather than going to work a different elementary school.

“These people are a large part of my life,” she said. “You get attached to the kids, parents and people in the school. They become part of your family. The fact that the school is closing down - that makes it harder.”

Fourth-grader Maurice Gray said he is a little scared about going to Estabrook next year because he has so many friends in Chapelle.

“This is my favorite school out of the whole district, and it’s fun and I know a lot of people,” he said. “There are a lot of teachers here who make everything fun.”

Gray said a field trip his social studies class took after studying Michigan to ride a tour boat near Port Huron ranks high among his favorite Chapelle memories.

Davis also praised Chapelle’s teachers.

“My teacher teaches us good,” she said of Beth Koryzno. “She has fun and plays with us, but she knows when it's time to get serious.”

Guillen said the Chapelle families aren't looking at the school closing as the end of their community, but an opportunity to start anew and put their best foot forward at other buildings.

“I don’t like to think of this school as closing,” he said. “We are all part of a true community here, so we are all taking what we have - our customs and traditions - and taking them out to other schools … and make them even better schools.”

Davis and Gray will both attend Estabrook next year, where Guillen will be principal. Guillen said one of his priorities will be to help the Chapelle kids and families adjust to the new school, and called his move to Estabrook is a big plus.

“Estabrook has been a first class school,” Guillen said. “I’m very fortunate to be going there and have a community already established.”

Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.