Arroyo Grande teachers miss their students during virus closure — so they held a parade
Arroyo Grande elementary school teachers miss the students they’re used to seeing in their classrooms — so they decided to put on a car parade to greet them from a safe distance.
Lucia Mar Unified School District campuses have been closed since March 13 to curb the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. District officials later announced schools will remain closed through at least May 4.
Ocean View Elementary School teachers announced the parade on Facebook on Tuesday night. The group got a police escort as teachers drove through Arroyo Grande, their cars decorated with messages, including one that said “OV loves their students.”
Teachers in convertibles, trucks and vans waved to their students, while some kids brought colorful signs. Siblings Grayson and Emery Ouimette held up a piece of cardboard that said “We miss you!”
“It’s been horrible for the past two weeks or so,” said Sandra Brownlee, the kindergarten teacher who helped organize the parade. “I’ve missed my little kiddos so much, and not just mine, but my past students.”
Brownlee said she’s seen some of her students through video chat, but it’s not the same as spending time with them in person.
“I’ve been able to see some of them on walks, and it just brightens my day,” she said before the event. “So I thought, ‘You know what, we need to bring this to the whole community.’ And hopefully we’ll get to see almost all of our students out there on the parade today.”
