Nine Christchurch schools are preparing to close their doors for the final time in the next few days as part of the Ministry of Education's post-quake shake-up.
Kendal School is having a closing ceremony this morning.
Board trustee Matthew Button said the school's closure will be mourned by the whole community and not just the people who go there.
"It's sad. It's disappointing. You think about the young people and where they're going next year, and trying to think we want our children to respond well and move on.
"But the whole community ... grieves the loss of a school."