Summer is here for some 27,000 Guam Department of Education students.

The last day of School Year 2021-2022 went out with a bang as GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez said farewell to students and employees for the last time as the final school bell rang on Tuesday afternoon.

It was a full-circle moment for Fernandez as he concluded his final school tour at Tamuning Elementary School.

"I spent the last week doing a tour of all the schools just to thank our teachers, staff for the hard work that they've done and thank the kids for continuing to show up every day and ready to move them up to the next level so we can continue to work with them over the summer and into this next school year and to say farewell as the superintendent," he said.

Fernandez was welcomed by students, educators, faculty and staff as he walked through the maroon and beige hallways, which led him, media outlets, U.S. Department of Education Senior Advisor to Secretary Chris Soto, Guam Education Board Member Maria Gutierrez, GDOE Deputy Superintendents Erika Cruz and Joe Sanchez to the center court. Passing through the hallways this sunny afternoon, greeting students and school employees, participants held big bright signs made out of poster boards and butcher paper-- thanking him for his almost decade-long tenure.

About 10 years ago, Fernandez brought his daughter to the Home of the Whales, the first GDOE school she attended, which is why he wrapped up his tour at the Tamuning campus today.

"I asked your principal can I take her parking spot and I park in the principal parking spot and I walked to her first day of school here at Tamuning Elementary," he said. "Now that I am done with 10 years as your superintendent and I am visiting the schools one last time I wanted to make Tamuning Elementary the last school because this is where I started and this is where it's going to end."

Throughout his nearly 10-years of service, Fernandez conducted school visits each school year to catch up with students and to see areas that need to be addressed. This was his last tour as his notice of intent to step down on July 15 was submitted in early May to the GEB.

Fernandez also danced in the center court to a couple of sons with employees at the Whales' request.

During the schools' final assembly of the year, a student representative thanked him for his leadership.

"Superintendent, I just wanted to say on behalf of everyone here, thank you," they said. "Thank you for 10 years and thank you for playing a part in what made my experience at Tamuning Elementary School unforgettable and remember before you embark on your new journey superintendent Jon Fernandez once a whale always a whale."

While the tour winded down and students said hello to summer, the Guam Fire Department held a farewell water salute for Fernandez, the longest-serving superintendent in GDOE history and in the nation.