Photo by David Prenatt Ripley Elementary School teachers in a line of nearly 30 vehicles traveled throughout the district as a way to say goodbye to the students for the summer.

RIPLEY — People love parades… military parades, Mardi Gras parades, Easter parades, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, and, perhaps, most of all, end-of- the-year teacher parades.

At the end of a school year marked by uncertainty, social distancing and remote learning, some schools have organized end-of-school-year automobile parades to give teachers the opportunity to bid students farewell and let them know how much they’ve been missed.

Such was the case in Ripley, as faculty and staff came together to create a parade of more than thirty automobiles that passed the home of every child in the district.

The end -of-school-year teacher parade began at 3 p.m, with the Ripley Fire Department leading the cars from the Ross Street parking lot, onto Route 76 and down to Route 5.

The parade traveled approximately 3 miles east on route 5 before turning up Forsythe Street to Route 20. Many families stood on their front lawns to greet the teachers and staff with hand waving and cheering.

The parade continued through the town for over an hour and a half, eventually reaching State Line Road to the west, then heading back to the school. School Principal Micah Oldham said “Everyone was so excited. There were even families that did not have kids in the school that were out there waving to us.”

School librarian Karen Kondrick said the event was very emotional. “It was so much fun! They (the kids) were so excited to see us and the signs, they made me cry,” she said. “I think it was a meaningful way to end the year. We miss them and they miss us and it was nice just to see their faces.”

Michelle Waters, Teacher on Special Assignment, said the parade was a good way to end the school year. “I liked that it provided everyone closure to the year,” she said. “I am hopeful we will be back in the classroom in the fall.”

Oldham also believes that the event provided closure for everyone. “I think for everyone it was important. When the school closed, the parents had to take on a new role, the students had to be more independent, the teachers were not able to see the kids every day. It just provided some closure to all of us,” he said.

Sixth grade teacher, Erika Meredith, whose students are graduating and going on to Chautauqua Lake Central School, said it was important to see everyone in person again. “It was a boost to the teachers’ spirit and the students’ spirit to see each other in person, “she said.

Oldham echoed her thoughts, when he said, “We’ve been looking at each other on the screen for so long. It was good to see each other face to face.”

District Superintendent William Caldwell noted how important the parade was for the students. “It was especially good for the younger kids who have missed the teachers,” he said. “Even that brief glimpse, I think it was as good a bit of closure as we could get.”

Everyone who participated in the parade thanked the Ripley community for turning out to greet them, to wave, to read the signs on the cars, and say goodbye to the teachers. “It was awesome. We tried to make sure we hit every corner of the district, said Caldwell. “It was a lot of fun.”