The 2018-19 school year came to a close amid rain and brief periods of gusty wind on June 13: It did not stop most of Newtown’s students from smiling.

Whether huddling under shared umbrellas or slouched within their pulled-up jackets for cover from the rain, students were quick to exit Hawley Elementary School as school faculty and staff waved good-bye and monitored dismissal.

Earlier, at Newtown Middle School, educators waved cutout paper yellow smiley faces under umbrellas as students boarded buses.

“Have great summer!” one student said, most likely reflecting the feelings of students at all of the Newtown Public Schools, as they dismissed that day.

“We’re done! We’re done!” another middle school student added.

And with those goodbyes students climbed into buses to be shuttled home — all through the town.

More photos from the last day of the 2018-19 school year will be featured with this story in the June 21 print edition of The Newtown Bee.