Belvedere Elementary School students and teachers have spent the last few weeks communicating online but got some face-to-face time Friday during a teacher parade.
Teachers, led by the school’s principal Dr. Sal Minolfo, rode through area neighborhoods and waved at students from a safe 6-foot distance. Friday's parade was one of many teacher parades that have been held in North Augusta.
“I think the thing is we’re just excited about being able to see our kids,” said Minolfo before the event.
“To me, that’s the most important thing. We haven’t seen them in quite a while.”
Aiken County public schools closed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak on March 16 and are currently closed through the end of April. Even though they aren't showing up to their classrooms each morning, students are engaging in distance learning, and many have communicated with teachers online.
Minolfo said they see students through virtual meetings and speak with them through social media and other apps.
“We have about 627 kids and all of us feel like they’re our children,” Minolfo said.
Even though they weren’t able to hug and high five the kids like usual, it was still an opportunity to connect with them, Minolfo said.
Kindergarten teacher Heather Pope rode with Katie Pope and Brooke Smith along the parade route.
“We’re super excited,” Heather said before the parade began. “We were just saying on the way over here that this is the most excited we’ve been the whole time, just because we’ve been cooped up and we haven’t been able to see them. It’s not the same virtually, so we’re excited to see the kids and just kind of show some school spirit and spread some joy during this time.”
Click here to see the full Aiken Standard article.