Niverville Elementary School Staff paraded around town to connect with their students and offer encouragement Monday afternoon.

Many students made signs to show appreciation for their teachers

“There were many great signs made by families saying ‘we love you; we miss you’,” says principal Tracy Beaudin, “and a couple of funny ones with the parents saying ‘take them back’.

Beaudin says their team was inspired by the parades of other school divisions and so got together and planned one for their students.

“We had our teaching staff as well as half of our E.A.s so probably 30 to 35 vehicles,” estimates Beaudin.

The principal planned the route and teachers personally emailed their student’s parents, informed all students via an individual message, and advertised on all of their media platforms.  "I got to be the, I don't know what you call it, grand marshall?", jokes Beadin about leading the parade.  "It was a lot of fun."

Sabrina Loewen came with her husband Terry, and their three children, grades 1 to 7, and says her daughter Bethany’s teacher was very enthusiastic to see her.  “Her teacher was like ‘ahh!'," says Loewen imitating the expression, "so, it was really good for the kids to see the teachers; they really do care for them.”

Loewen shares that her family lives outside of town but that she felt it was important to reciprocate the encouraging efforts of the school’s staff.

In regard to the challenges faced so far, Beaudin has nothing but gratitude for her staff, students, and parents “for being on this journey with us.”

“We know this is not how they want to have their school year go,” says Beaudin, “and they also hopefully know that this not how we wanted the school year going. We are all in this unprecedented time together and we look forward to the time we can all be back inside the building together again.