VIENNA — Yet another school year is in the books at Mathews Elementary, and the Mathews Board of Education heard how the year wrapped up.

Mathews Elementary School Principal Michael King used the first half of his remarks to thank several groups or individuals, such as Superintendent Russell McQuaide, noting he still had a few months left but wanted to convey it regardless.

“I cannot thank our PTO enough — words cannot express how appreciative we are of everything they’ve done this year, from the balloon arches and all of the events and everything they’ve planned so well,” King said. “Specifically, our executive board of ladies that worked endlessly — the running joke sometimes is they should be on payroll because they spend so much time with us doing things, they’ve done a fantastic job.”

King said the group had some changeover mid-school year, but never missed a beat.

Regarding academics, King said school officials are reviewing things, such as evaluations, adding that they have fourth and fifth grade’s preliminary results.

“In fourth and fifth grade, their results are promising; as we get into digging a little deeper and see the report cards themselves, will probably be a bigger story,” King said. “We’re happy with the progress and growth that we’re seeing in moving kids forward.”

King said third graders took their tests using paper and pencil, which will come back soon.

King recognized fifth grader Bryson Lutton, the school’s first-ever chess champion, after the school’s librarian asked for nothing in return, just wanting to spend time with the children she knew were interested in playing chess.

“It kind of grew into a bunch of kids picking up chess and they would meet with her once or twice a week,” King said. “I could not believe the talent, the words that come to mind are ‘big brains.'”

King said Lutton had to play him, and he was very impressed and proud of the children for the efforts they put in to learn the game.

King thanked the school’s entire staff for their work throughout the school year to make it successful, noting the schedule adjustments that were done around the elementary school gymnasium, which officials held a ribbon cutting for in January.

“The ongoing project of the playground, which is now done, relatively done, done enough that they were able to play on the last three days,” King said. “So many things that, little hiccups along the way, and everybody just kind of perseveres and pitches in to do what’s needed.”

“In my 20 years as an administrator, I think we felt very accomplished this year, in things we got done,” he added.