Two weeks ago, Margaret Coppola had the opportunity to spend a few days in her pre-kindergarten classroom at the Oxycocus School.

“We weren’t allowed to have any of the assistants with us, so it was the quietest 3½ days I’d had in 48 years,” she said. “The big rolling trash bin and I had a good time together. I filled it several times. It was the first time I had realized just how much stuff I kept.”

June 9 was Coppola’s last day in the building. Eight days later, on June 17, she finally got to wear the crown and sash…