From near and far, past and present busy bees buzzed back to their beloved hive in Tamuning Thursday, to bid a bittersweet farewell to the place that has left an indelible mark on the lives of many. 

The Chief Brodie School community gathered in unity to honor the end of an era with a heartfelt decommissioning ceremony, a morning filled with reflection, gratitude, and celebration.

“We were busy bees, we are the busy bees, and we will always be the busy bees,” said Darlene Castro, Principal at Chief Brodie School. 

Legacy teachers, principals, alumni, and families sharing how the school’s spirit helped shape who they are today. 

Among them, Guam Education Board member Maria Gutierrez, sharing the school’s deep impact on her grandchildren, especially her grandson, who sadly passed away this year. 

“This was the school that set the foundation for their education, Sean’s education started from here,” said Maria Gutierrez, GEB member and former Chief Brodie grandparent. 

It’s a lasting impact also felt by Chief Brodie parent Risa Larimer. 

“Very emotional—I’m not a teacher here but I am a parent–I’ve helped with the kids and I’ve just seen all the smiles and to see everyone going their separate ways, it’s just very emotional,” said Larimer. 

Like a true hive, Chief Brodie has helped generations of busy bees grow, including Larimer’s daughter, a student in the Head Start program, and her mother, Principal Darlene Castro.

“In the nearly nine years I’ve been here, Chief Brodie Elementary has meant more to me than words can capture. It’s where I have grown–not just as a principal, but as a person–it’s where I have learned what true respect means, not just taught, but felt. Where understanding wasn’t just spoken, but lived,” said Castro.  

And though the doors of Chief Brodie now close, with wings of wisdom and hearts full of hope, these busy bees will carry the school’s legacy, buzzing brightly through every door they fly through next.