Immanuel Lutheran Teachers Host Parking Lot Parade for Students

Immanuel Lutheran Celebrates End of School Year

Marshfield, WI (OnFocus) Immanuel Lutheran School made the upcoming end of the school year special during social distancing measures by hosting a parking lot parade for students.

Teachers decorated their trunks Monday morning and waved to students and parents, who walked or drove past multiple times and even threw candy.

“We just wanted to do something to finish off the year on a high note the best we could,” said Principal Karen Bahn. “We were trying to figure out a way that we can close out the year and somehow let ourselves be visible to the kids because they haven’t seen us in so long.”

Art teacher Rebecca Belt decorated her trunk with a paint brush, fabric representing paint spilling from a paint can,  and a colorful sign congratulating her students on an “ART-SOME” school year.

“The parade was such a good way to see our students and their parents and feel connected to them (at a safe distance!)” said Belt. “While the school year itself didn’t allow for any closure for teachers or students alike, the parade was a refreshing way to say our thank you’s, our good-byes, and our see-you-next-years.”

Immanuel Lutheran moved to virtual learning after Gov. Evers ordered the closures of schools in mid-March, which ultimately extended to the rest of the academic year.

“It’s not ideal, but for the most part our kids have done very well and we were able to communicate. The parents were very good about connecting with us if they needed help,” said Bahn. “Obviously, we’re hoping and praying that next year we don’t have do this but if we need to, we’re ready.”

The parking lot parade offered a chance to have a face-to-face connection that everyone has been missing.

“It was good for the teachers, because you feel like you’re teaching in a vacuum,” said Bahn. “You’re putting out this information and you get an email, it’s not the same as that face to face.”

The event also gave 8th graders, who didn’t get a traditional graduation ceremony this year, a chance to pose for photos by their personalized signs displayed in front of the church. Next week, yearbooks signed with messages by teachers will be available for pickup.

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