Loose Creek school teachers use parade to connect with students
With school out, teachers and students are missing what would otherwise be daily interaction, so teachers at Immaculate Conception School in Loose Creek decided to bridge the gap caused by the coronavirus.
“No teacher wants to be at home right now,” said third-grade teacher Melinda Countryman, who organized a parade event with help from Principal Rita Stiefermann. “I’d much rather be with my kiddos, but that’s not possible, so we decided to do something to show students we miss them and care about them.”
Parents were sent a letter outlining the April 1 event, which began at the school and took a path past the Loose Creek Community Center, Lock’s Mill, and then along Route A, passing through several subdivisions on the way to Bonnots Mill.
“I saw something like this on Facebook, and thought it would be a great way to spread cheer,” said Ms. Countryman. “It’s a great way to stay connected beyond texts and social media.”
Along the route, there were several children in each area, as well as some unexpected participants.
“We saw several elderly people in their yards, some with signs, cheering us on,” said Ms. Countryman. “They didn’t have any kids with them, and they thanked us for what we were doing. It really pulled on my heartstrings.”
A total of 14 vehicles were involved in the parade.
Students were encouraged to participate in a virtual spirit week, with different events each day. On Wednesday, for example, students were asked to wear a hat in a “Hats off to coronavirus workers,” while Thursday’s activity was to wear an I.C. Loose Creek Eagles shirt in solidarity. On Friday, students were encouraged to wear a crazy outfit or have a crazy hairstyle because the world has become a crazy place thanks to COVID-19.
“We’ll continue to message our students and make sure they’re doing okay,” said Ms. Countryman. “It boils down to finding ways to keep our spirits up, stay connected, and love each other through this difficult time.”
Mr. Johnson is editor of the Unterrified Democrat newspaper (www.unterrifieddemocrat.com) in Osage County. This article is republished with permission.
