“Seeing Them Makes Me Want To Cry”

Car parade reunites teachers with students, from a distance.

More than 40 teachers and staff members showed up voluntarily with posters, maracas, and balloons to see their students and families drive-by in the building parking lot. It was one of several such school ​“parades” held around New Haven Friday.

As Jessica Bentley’s Jepson fourth and fifth-graders went by, she gave each one of them an air hug, fist bump, or high five as they would traditionally do when arriving to her classroom before schools closed for the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s been hard on us teachers not having that connection in the classroom with them. Seeing them makes me want to cry,” said Bentley (above left in photo).

While making her double-sided sign Thursday night, Bentley said, it reminded her of making anchor charts with her students while teaching in the classroom.

As students and their families drove by, some teachers asked their students if they were keeping up with their online assignments and reading time.

The idea for the parade came to Principal Lesley Stancarone and Building Manager Mark Bohannon from schools Superintendent Iline Tracey.

As a part of Teacher Appreciation Week, Stancarones treated the participating teachers to cupcakes in the cafeteria after the parade.

“It provides comfort to the students to know that we are ok and for us knowing that they are ok,” said Bohannon.

While in the line of teachers and staff, Bohannon was gifted a handmade thank-you plaque from a student.

Kindergarten teacher Rachel Seconding and pre‑K teacher Gwendolyn McCrea were both left feeling emotional as the end of the parade neared.

“Our kids are like our second family,” said McCrea, who had been out of school since February for surgery.

Seconding said teaching at a distance has been a challenge for her.

“It’s very hard because you can’t hold their hands or hug them,” she said.

Many teachers personalized their posters and signs with their student’s names and faces.

“It was fun. I wish we could do this every day,” said third-grader Isabella, who drove through the parade twice with her family.

Isabella held a sign outside of her car window saying ​“Jepson family is the best!”

Dianne, mother of a third- and a sixth-grader, said when she received the flyer she decided she would surprise her kids with the parade. The sign outside of Dianne’s car read, ​“Covid can’t keep our hearts apart! Thank you Jepson!”

In addition to comfort, the parade aimed to provide students and teachers with a proper closure of the school year, said Bohannon.