GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – At 9:00 am last Friday morning, Sycamore School teachers and staff met up outside the school to decorate their cars and trucks with signs and messages of love for their students.

Students have been hit hard by the realization that the 2019-2020 school year may indeed end at home and it’s been surprising how much they actually miss going to school. Sycamore student Avery Mendenhall says that what she misses most during this time is “hanging out with my friends because I’m very social,” and of course, her teachers. Teachers are definitely feeling the impact of the “shelter at home” order and miss their students immensely. Gridley Unified School District bus drivers Maggie Graham and Tracy Smith say that the days are “too quiet” without them.

On Friday, nearly 20 vehicles piloted by Sycamore and GUSD staffers put on a spirited parade for their students. Families were notified through the all-call system the night before, giving the students something special to look forward to in the morning.

As the caravan departed the Sycamore School campus, signs waved, horns honked, and teachers hollered as they waved to the excited students lining the street as they went by. Some students even made signs of their own, like Gracie Leishman and her brother Grey and sister Bree. As they waited for the caravan to arrive in their neighborhood, Gracie said, “We appreciate it because it’s hard being inside all the time.”  Mother Julie Bunn says as she waits with her children and their friends, “We’re so excited – I think it’s great! The kids have been cooped up, you know, so it’s something to look forward too.”

It was then that horns were heard in the distance and around the corner came the caravan. The cars and trucks paraded by, putting smiles on the faces of their students, their families and other passersby. The parade was followed by GUSD’s first electric school bus, which was supposed to make its maiden voyage the week that the schools were shut down.

When asked what they would like to say to their teachers for doing this, the students we spoke to along the parade route all said, “We miss you!” and “Love you!”