LAKE CLEAR — The last day of school today at Lake Clear Elementary is the last day forever.

Saranac Lake Central School Board voted in November to close the small school due to budget constraints and declining district enrollment.

Lake Clear, which had 48 students this year, is a small school for kindergarten to grade 3. Its highest enrollment — when it used to extend to grade 4 — was 70 students.

READY TO MOVE ON

On the last full day of school, Teaching Principal Raymond Dora’s third-graders stood in front of their final project, a giant map of the Appalachian Trail that brightened the hallway.

Three of the students said they’d like to hike the entire route someday, raising their hands to be counted in earnest.

They all declared they are ready for fourth grade.

These 10 Lake Clear graduates would have matriculated into surrounding schools at Petrova Elementary and Bloomingdale anyway.

Still, they seemed wistful, knowing the doors won’t open for other kids next year.

The Lake Clear kids all had patches of honor pinned to their shirts.

“Great Things Happened Here,” the badges said, “Lake Clear School 1955-2009.”

MARKING PASSAGE

The school and community celebrated 54 years of existence several times in the last week, with a barbecue for parents past and present; the usual kindergarten graduation; and a few quiet and private moments, giving pause over packing.