With school out, teachers and students are missing what would otherwise be daily interaction, so teachers at Immaculate Conception Catholic 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 the 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 last Wednesday’s event, which began at the school and took a path past the Loose Creek Community Center, Lock’s Mill, and then along Rt. A, hitting 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 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 Countryman. “They didn’t have any kids with them, and they thanked us for what we were doing. It really pulled on my heartstrings.”

Students have been encouraged to participate in a virtual spirit week, with different events each day this week. On Wednesday, for example, students are asked to wear a hat in a “Hats off to coronavirus workers,” while Thursday’s activity is to wear an IC-LC Eagles shirt in solidarity, and Friday, students are 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 Countryman. “It boils down to finding ways to keep our spirits up, stay connected, and love each other through this difficult time.”

A total of 14 vehicles were involved in the parade.