NATCHEZ — Like tiny leisure-seeking refugees, students at McLaurin Elementary School filed out the school’s side door to waiting busses to be ushered away to one of the most magical times of the year — summer.

Thursday was the last day of classes for all schools in the Natchez-Adams School District.

The school’s principal, Alice Morrison, said the school’s students showed great composure on their last day of classes.

As each classroom was dismissed, students walked to the end of the hall and sat near the door waiting to be let on to their busses.

“Things went very well today,” Morrison said walking through students exchanging hugs and discussing summer plans. “It’s very emotional.”

While no students were spotted crying, the occasional teacher could be seen wiping away a tear.

McLaurin only teaches third and fourth grade students, for many it was their last day at the school.

“They get attached and they have to leave today,” Morrison said.

Taylor Fry was one of those students.

Fry is now on her way to the fifth grade — and she’s pretty excited.

“There’s going to be a lot of new stuff,” she said. “I think it’s going to be fun.”

Fry said she plans to head to Blue Bayou water park today.

Emmanuel Morris, another soon-to-be fifth-grader, has less stressful plans for his first day of summer vacation.

“I’m going to sleep as long as I want,” he said. “Maybe until lunch.”

After he wakes, Morris said he plans to play computer games.

“It’s going to be fun,” he said.

But not everyone in the district gets the day off.

Teachers will be heading to their schools for one final day of meetings before they start their vacation.

Babbs Grey, McLaurin’s gym teacher, said the last day for teachers is like a get-together before the summer starts.

Superintendent of the district, Anthony Morris, said summer is actually one of the busiest times for the district’s administrators.

Morris said the coming weeks will have administrators in training meetings and hiring new teachers for the coming year.

“If you don’t do the proper planning for the year now, it can throw off the entire year,” Morris said.

But for thousands of students across Adams County, all that planning is far less exciting than sleeping in late or going to a water park.

As the last bus pulled out of McLaurin on Thursday the halls took on an odd quietness as only the occasional teacher passed by.

“It’s over now,” one teacher walking down the hall said with a look of relief on her face.