Sad, because after 53 years the Bega West School is closing and by mid-morning all pupils and teachers will have left the Rawlinson St premises.

And joyful because the amalgamation of the school with Bega Public School, as the new Bega Valley Public School, will bring together the best of both schools’ proud cultures on a site with state-of-the-art facilities.

Before leaving Bega West this morning, there will be a final farewell assembly for which every class has prepared a short item to say goodbye and to celebrate the past years.

At 11am, all pupils will be bussed down to Littleton Gardens to greet the Bega Public pupils for a public farewell to the schools and to forge the new Bega Valley Public School.

Each school will perform a musical item, sing the old school song and then together perform the new Bega Valley Public School song.

The flags of each school will be ceremoniously folded and the new flag unfurled.

To the Ben Lee song We’re All in This Together, Year 6 pupils will take the hands of a kindergarten pupil from the other school and invite them to join the ranks of the new school.

Then all the pupils will march down to Bega Public, the site of the new school, as a united body.

Bega Public has had $7.5million spent on it in preparation for the amalgamation.

It boasts a new hall, new library, six brand new classrooms and 11 fully refurbished classrooms with smart boards in every room.

Around 340 pupils will make up the first cohort of Bega Valley Public School when classes return on January 30 next year.

Bega West principal Alana Lockerbie, who is retiring after 31 years at the school, told pupils there was much to achieve next year.

“History will remember that 2011 saw Bega West close its doors after 53 years, and what great years they have been,” Ms Lockerbie said.

“For everything that Bega West is today, I’d like to say thank you.”

Ms Lockerbie said while schools were “much more than just bricks and mortar”, the new school’s facilities would make a huge difference to teaching and learning.

“This upgrade was a one-off opportunity which we simply had to take,” she said.

“But just because it’s been the right thing to do doesn’t mean it’s been an easy thing to do.

“It’s now time to build our new school, to put aside any doubts or concerns we might have and to work together.”

Bega Public School principal Troy Mott, who will be the first principal of Bega Valley Public School, said it was an exciting time for the whole town.

“This year really marks a new beginning for both schools, because this is not a takeover; it’s an entirely new school,” Mr Mott said.

“We now have the facilities our children deserve.

“And it’s also been great that all permanent staff members, teachers and administrative, from both schools have been offered positions at the new school next year.”

Mr Mott said the merger of two middle-sized schools was unprecedented in the region and a lot of work had gone into making the transition as smooth as possible.

There have been a number of joint school activities and programs throughout 2011, including an Anzac Day march, sports day and Bali day.

“We’ve also put a lot of thought and organisation into the first day next year,” Mr Mott said.

“All pupils and parents received information about what’s going to happen and at all times we’ve involved the community in our planning to make sure their wishes are taken into account.”

Mr Mott said today was about honouring the history and traditions of both schools while celebrating the potential of Bega Valley Public School.