The multi-purpose room at Sippican School was filled with students singing along to “Hey Jude” on Friday afternoon as the school bid farewell to custodian Joe Mitchell.

Mitchell – an avid fan of The Beatles – worked at Sippican School for 35 years before his retirement on Friday. To honor his final day, students, faculty and staff got together for an assembly to thank Mitchell for all he has done for the school.

“It’s a very special thing to be at any one job for that many years,” Principal Lyn Rivet said.

A group of teachers then took the stage, dressed as Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, to lip sync to “Hello Goodbye.”

The afternoon was full of songs and gifts centered around the band, including the Abbey Road album, a children’s book written by Starr, a framed photo of the iconic Abbey Road album cover art to hang in the hallway and, of course, the students singing along to “Hey Jude.”

“That song never sounded better than the way you just did it,” Mitchell told the students.

Mitchell also received a citation from State Representative Bill Straus congratulating him on his retirement.

In addition to the citation, the students also gave Mitchell a more personal gift. Teachers asked students to draw or write what they thought “Mr. Mitchell” would be doing after he retired. All the drawings and writings were then collected and put into a binder for him.

Faculty members also shared their personal stories about Mitchell. Rivet told the students that he has every teacher’s birthday memorized so that he can remember to wish them a happy birthday on their special day.

“He knows them all by heart,” she said. “That’s how smart Mr. Mitchell is.”

In honor of this, Mitchell was also presented a book called “If a T. Rex Crashes Your Birthday Party.”

However, Mitchell said his favorite gift of all was the friendships that he made with faculty and students over the years.

“You’re all my friends,” he told the students. “And you’ll always be my friends.”