On Friday’s last day of school, Bogalusa High School Principal Eric Greely said he is looking forward to next year, which will be his first full year as principal at the school.

Greely began the year as Central Elementary principal before he switched over. He instituted new initiatives to make the school run smoother.

“This school year has been a year of change,” Greely said. “It’s always like that when you get a new lead principal. We’ve got a lot of areas to improve upon, and we believe we have the right team to do that.”

Greely said the 2015-16 school year will be when new measures take root.

“We’re excited about next year because we have put strategies and resources in place that will have a tremendous impact on academics and discipline,” Greely said. “It is really great when the Board of Education and the superintendent are always willing to provide the resources necessary to have success.”

Freshman Jaquarius Baham said he is already looking forward to next year.

“The school year was cool. Next year I’m looking forward to more fun,” Baham said. “My discipline will be improved next year.”

Baham started at second base on the baseball team and also was a shooting guard on the basketball team.

Freshman Shelton Stewart also played shooting guard and point guard on the basketball squad.

“I am going to travel over the summer. I’m going to Oklahoma and see my mom and family,” Stewart said.

“I am looking forward to next year so I can play more basketball and also learn some more math and science,” Stewart said.

Sophomore Da’Shunta Fields and Lasterria Pigott both said exams were tough.

“I’m glad the school year is over so I can be a junior,” Fields said. “It was a long year, but it was worth it. I’m looking forward to next year. I’m going to be a majorette and play soccer in the school’s first year of having it. The school year was OK, but I could have improved in things.”

Pigott agreed.

“The year was hard, but it was a good year,” Pigott said. “The classes were hard. At the end of the year, I was trying to catch up because I had an accident on Mother’s Day. It was difficult trying to play catch up.”

Pigott said she planned to play volleyball next school year for the first time.

Head baseball coach and history teacher Michael Cummings said his passion is teaching.

“This year was a year for a lot of changes. It was more of a year of adjustments,” Cummings said. “I love teaching the kids we have here. I just love teaching the kids.”

Cummings has been at BHS for six years. He is originally from Honolulu, where his father was stationed in the U.S. Army. He has been in Bogalusa since he was 7.

Cummings said next school year should be productive.

“We have some good people coming in next year,” Cummings said. “If we stick with the things that we have in place it will a strong year next year.”

David Warren teaches sixth grade English. He was selected the district Teacher of the Year for the lower grades at Thursday’s Bogalusa City Schools’ Board meeting. This year was only his second year as a teacher.

“This past year was definitely a pleasant year. I’m encouraged by the growth and positive culture change,” Warren said. “On this last day of school it feels like it’s gone by in a blur. They say time flies when you’re having fun. It really was a fun year.”