Editor’s note: Lindsay William-Ross is managing editor of the Optimist’s sister publication Vancouver is AWESOME. She lives in Ladner and her son goes to Port Guichon
Just before 1 p.m. on Friday afternoon, students from Port Guichon elementary in Ladner stepped out of their homes and onto sidewalks, driveways, and lawns. Joined by parents and siblings, many bearing hand-made signs, the kids waited for the chance to wave hello to some very important people: their teachers.
About 25 cars formed a "parade," that weaved its way along a designated route, as teachers, school staff, and the principal honked and waved and shouted hello to the students they haven't seen in over a month.
Principal Niels Nielsen organized the Car Parade.
“I'm always trying to find ways to build community,” said Nielsen.
About 190 students attend Port Guichon, and Nielsen explained that they needed to draw a route that could accommodate a long line of cars without clogging traffic, while also passing by as many students' homes in the catchment as possible. Since they couldn't drive down every street, the school wanted to make sure that they could pass by enough grassy areas where families could potentially gather - at safe distances - to still catch the parade.
The teachers were more than happy to take part, with about 25 of the school's 27 or so staff able to participate. The "Car Parade" even included a special assist from Delta Police School Liaison Program coordinator Sgt. Cathy Geddes, who took second position in the parade behind Nielsen's lead, and was able to not only greet the students but also help with a little traffic direction along the way.
The last in-class instructional day for these students and teachers was back on March 13. Schools across B.C. were closed to on-site instruction during the two-week spring break that followed. During the first week of April, Port Guichon students and parents were contacted by teachers to begin the process of arranging for distance learning, tailored by grade level and often to the students themselves.
For many teachers, the switch to doing thing this way has been necessary but hard.
Mary Ann Scarr teaches a Grade One and Two classes at Port Guichon.
“Under this new teaching model, I have adjusted, as all of us have had to do during these unprecedented times,” she said. “There have been many learning curves for sure, but with all we do, our focus is what is in the best interest of our students.”
For Scarr and her colleagues, this means not just the math and reading and other daily lessons, but also focusing on the children's mental well-being.
“I truly miss the personal interactions of the children, and all the fun of our energetic classroom," said Scarr.
Nielsen said he knows the Car Parade was as important to the staff as it was to the kids. He says Port Guichon has a passionate and dedicated staff that misses the students dearly. Seeing the kids for him, he said, was "for sure a double-edged sword." It was so exciting to see everyone and felt amazing, "but made me miss having those kids in school."
“The best part of our job is working with kids,” added Nielsen. "Port Guichon is a school that is full of laughter and community, and a staff that cares about each other and the students.”
