April 25, 2020

St. Michael’s Academy teachers hold ‘reverse parade’ for students, families

REGIONAL
By Sharon Roulier

Assistant kindergarten teacher Nanci McNally shows students they are missed during the St. Michael’s Academy “reverse parade” on April 20. (iObserve photos/courtesy of St. Michael’s Academy)

Watch video version of story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVA7QVKR0CE

SPRINGFIELD – Faculty and staff at St. Michael’s Academy kicked off spring vacation week by inviting families from the school to a “reverse parade” on Monday, April 20.

Faculty from grades kindergarten through eighth grade lined a parade route around the school property beginning at 10 a.m.

Fifth-grade teacher Cate Senecal said the staff had wanted to do something to boost spirits during this time when all are learning remotely.

“We are missing the children terribly, even though we are in contact with them daily through Google Classroom and meeting with them on Google Meets,” Senecal told iObserve.

Families drove around the streets that border St. Michael’s Academy, honking their horns, their cars decorated with signs and balloons. The teachers, meanwhile, stood waving their hands and holding signs.

“It’s tough to say who had the better time: the students and families or the teachers,” said Senecal. “It was so nice to see their faces and to bring some happiness to our families during these difficult times.” 

“It was such a wonderful way to kick off the spring vacation for our students,” said Nancy Coley, director of enrollment at St. Michael’s Academy. “They made their own signs and waved out the windows as they drove by. You couldn’t help but have your spirits lifted seeing all of their smiling faces!”

Kristen Dionne brought her two daughters to the reverse parade.

“My daughters were so happy to see their teachers,” she said. “As a parent it really solidified to me how much the teachers care about their students by orchestrating a way to see their students on the first day of April vacation.”

“The parade was really awesome,” said Fermi Renta, a parent of a fourth-grader at the school. “St. Michael’s Academy is truly amazing. The kids loved seeing everyone. I was fighting back tears the entire time.”

First grade teacher Kaitlin Rowland said all of the teachers at the school wanted to host the parade for their students, as they missed their classroom time together.

“I did not realize how much I would miss the students’ faces ’till I saw them drive by,” said Rowland. “It touched my heart to see the signs that they made. The parade was a real morale boost for both students and faculty as we continue distance learning. “

Dionne said that, in looking back on the day, it was a bittersweet moment, as on Tuesday, it was announced that the state of Massachusetts would continue remote learning for the remainder of the academic year.

“It is a difficult situation for everyone,” said Dionne. “But we know that the teachers have the best interest of their students during this time.”