Cedar Island Staff Organizes Neighborhood Parade for Students

The 2019-2020 school year has been a year unlike any other for sure. After not seeing their students for two months, staff members from Cedar Island Elementary in Maple Grove wanted to do something special.

“Our staff is parading for our families,” said Barb Lindsay, Cedar Island’s volunteer coordinator. “We’ve created a route that goes by all of our students’ houses, and we hope lots of families come out to watch the parade.”

Cars carrying staff members from Cedar Island Elementary drive through a Maple Grove neighborhood.

Roughly 50 cars belonging to Cedar Island staff members gathered in a Maple Grove parking lot Friday afternoon. The teachers decorated their vehicles in a way that shows their students how much they’re missed. Lindsay says that since distance learning started in March, it’s been difficult for both the students and teachers to not see each other on a daily basis.

“I know it’s been hard on students not to be in school, but students should remember it’s really hard on their teachers not to be able to see them face-to-face every day and the other staff to be in the building with all of the energy and liveliness that kids bring,” Lindsay said.

Friday’s parade even featured a convertible carrying Cedar Island’s Bobcat mascot.

A convertible carrying the Cedar Island mascot.

Meanwhile, the parade was a way for teachers to show everyone that the world of education thrives on relationships.

“The teachers have really taken this to heart and want to make sure the families know that they miss them, they’re proud of them – proud of the kids for all the work they’re doing, and I know for a fact that the students are looking forward to this,” Lindsay said. “I was just talking to some parents last night and they are really anxious to see their teachers.”

Maple Grove