ItB次元官网网址檚 not every day Saanich residents get to see a parade of teachers coming down their streets but on Wednesday afternoon, thatB次元官网网址檚 exactly what Lochside Elementary School students witnessed.
On April 22, a caravan of teachers and staff B次元官网网址� led by a fire truck with lights and sirens blaring B次元官网网址� paraded through the community to say hello to their students who are isolated from one another due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Despite the rain, teachers decorated their vehicles with balloons, posters and streamers and marshalled outside the elementary school on Wednesday morning. The parade route took the group all through the schoolB次元官网网址檚 catchment area B次元官网网址� down side roads and cul-de-sacs alike B次元官网网址� so that they could visit as many students as possible from the safety of their cars.
The parade wove down side streets, cul-de-sacs and main roads to show their students some love. caught up to the procession on Blenkinsop Road:
B次元官网网址� Devon Bidal (@devonscarlett)
The schoolB次元官网网址檚 bright green mascot, the Lochside Lizard, brought up the rear and waved to students from the moon-roof of the last vehicle. Families and kids with colourful raincoats and umbrellas lined the streets to wave to their teachers who they hadnB次元官网网址檛 seen in more than a month. Many were carrying signs and posters theyB次元官网网址檇 made to show their teachers as the parade passed by.
B次元官网网址淚t was so great,B次元官网网址� said Lochside kindergarten teacher Carolin McDonnell. B次元官网网址淚, myself, got emotional.B次元官网网址�
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Teacher librarian Laura Molloy pitched the idea for the parade during a virtual staff meeting and everyone loved the idea, McDonnell said. She created the route and other details fell into place. The rain wasnB次元官网网址檛 ideal but McDonnell pointed out that when events donB次元官网网址檛 quite go as planned, they usually end up being more memorable.
She said the parade was part of an effort to stay connected to students as B次元官网网址渞emote learning in a crisisB次元官网网址� doesnB次元官网网址檛 match the classroom experience. Students miss socializing and so do their teachers.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all trying to find ways to keep that relationship goingB次元官网网址� with the students, McDonnell said. B次元官网网址淲e all needed this.B次元官网网址�
The students were so excited to see the fire truck leading the parade, McDonnell added. In the true community spirit, the truck was driven by a teacherB次元官网网址檚 husband who is a member of the Saanich Fire Department.
McDonnell acknowledged that teachers felt bad about driving in a parade on Earth Day but decided that having the teachers drive out to the students was better for the environment than having the families drive to the school.
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