For Ethan Fenton, Friday wasn’t just his last day as a fifth-grader and elementary-school student. It was also an end to a 25-year run for his family at Pine Knob Elementary School.
His sister, Sarah, was the first to attend Pine Knob in 1983.
‘He loves this school,? said his mother, Beth Fenton. ‘I know he’s going to miss it. He’s one of those few kids that really has a spark for school. He has a real spark for learning.?
Ethan said he will miss being a part of A World in Motion, and his teachers.
‘I like all of the wonderful teachers that taught me new things and the extra help they gave me,? he said.
The Fenton family has been there throughout Pine Knob’s changes over the years.
‘The school has changed immensely,? said Beth. ‘When Sarah started, there wasn’t a gym. The school was half the size it is now. They didn’t have a cafeteria. Kids would get their lunch at a tiny kitchen and then go back to their rooms to eat.?
They have been through five principals and seen many teachers retire.
‘I think a lot of the older teachers were like second moms to them, and just really helped them out on the right path and were easy to talk to,? said Beth.
The family still keeps in contact with some of the teachers they have had. They keep in touch with Sarah’s first-grade teacher and send letters and pictures back and forth.
‘I know Mrs. Powers made a big impact on Sarah,? Beth said.
The Fentons have always had a good experience with the staff at Pine Knob.
‘All the kids have gotten a good education, starting from this school,? said Beth.
Beth and her husband, Don, moved to Clarkston from Lake Orion after Beth found a job and babysitter in the area in 1982.
Sarah entered kindergarten the following year.
‘When we first started here, we were the young parents, now I have grandkids. It’s been a real transition.?
Beth said she will miss the school.
‘It’s small and we know everybody. He’ll miss it. We thought about moving a couple years ago. He was more devastated with the fact that he wouldn’t be at this school then we were going to move.?
The Pine Knob graduates have grown and taken the lessons from their elementary days with them.
Sarah Bielinski, 30, mastered in Chemical Engineering at Colorado State University and works at EnCana, a gas and oil company. She recently married and lives in Denver.
Heidi Warrington, 26, is a registered nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Pontiac with her mom. They both attended school for nursing and graduated last May.
Heidi lives in Waterford with her husband and her three children.
Nick, 23, graduated Lansing Community College and is transferring to Denver to finish his degree in Civil Engineering.
Emily, 21, is attending Oakland Community College and studying to be a surgical technician.
David, 19, graduated from Renaissance High School this year and will probably attend a trade school for building.
‘He attended OTEC and learned a lot about building houses from start to finish,? said Beth.’He had wonderful education with Mr. Moscovic.?
Stephanie, 15, will be a junior next year at Clarkston High School. She is a part of the marching band and drama. She plans to become a lawyer.
Ethan, 11, also has his own lawn business.
‘He loves this school. He would mow the grass for free if they would let him,? Beth said.
Ethan wrote Superintendent Dr. Albert Roberts and asked if he could take care of the school’s grass with his tractor.
When Ethan graduates in 2015, it will mark 32 years in Clarkston Community Schools for the Fenton family. Ethan’s fifth-grade class planted a tree. Beth plans to take a picture of Ethan next to the tree every year to see how much Ethan and the tree have grown.
‘Clarkston caters to everyone, academically bright and athletic, which I really like,? said Beth. ‘The kids got a real great start here. We were really fortunate.?