With students out of classrooms for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus pandemic, staff members from the Hot Springs School District held a parade Wednesday evening to spread some Trojan Pride throughout the city.
"Our Trojan Family wanted to spread joy by sending a message of positivity and hope to our students and to the community," Superintendent Stephanie Nehus said.
The Trojan Spirit Parade was carefully planned so that the district's staff members could maintain social distancing, and it was thoroughly communicated that all onlookers were to do the same, she said.
"I couldn't be more proud of our team for being part of an organized, mindful, and celebratory effort that expressed love, encouragement, and unity to families across Hot Springs," Nehus said.
Adriane Barnes, Hot Spring School District communications and public relations coordinator, said Thursday that the staff members were excited to see their students. They remained in their cars and waved at the students as drove the route, which extended from the high school on Emory all the way north to Park and Whittington avenues and various points in between.
Barnes said parade-goers were told to remain six feet apart as they lined the route. The school district suggested watching the parade from balconies, yards, windows, porches or inside vehicles, if possible.
"This parade was undertaken to communicate to our students that we miss them, we are proud of their continued hard work, and we are continuing to support them in every way that we can from a safe distance," Barnes said.
She said district officials were pleased with the event. The staff members followed social distancing protocol and practiced safety, and onlookers including students and adults were appropriate distances apart as they celebrated and waved from areas spaced out across the city.
"We feel like it was an appropriately handled effort -- with all safety recommendations considered and followed surrounding the COVID-19 situation, " Barnes said.
She said that this was a gesture of hope and celebration to remind the students that they are loved, and they are valued by the HSSD family, during a time when many students and parents are feeling alone and separated from the rest of the world.
The route included Seventh, Plain, Wynn, Hobson, West Grand, Quapaw, Central, Whittington, Newton, Walter, Walnut, Robin, Cedar, Amber, Magnolia, Park Avenue, Reserve, Spring, Illinois, Wade, Silver, Gaines, East and West Belding, Hobson, Linwood, West St. Louis, Higdon Ferry, and Emory, Barnes said.
"We are not pretending this situation is not extremely serious, and that protocols should strictly be followed, " she said. "We used an effort that followed all safety guidelines, but that also spread joy and hope to families that we can't reach out and hug in person."
"HSSD has been amazing to its Trojan family and many others. I'm thankful for them caring so much. I've been a Trojan since kindergarten and proud to see my children become Trojans, too. Doctors and nurses are front line, but educators are out here, too, and going strong. Thank you HSSD and all of your dedicated staff," Angela Douthit said in one Facebook post.
"I'm crying ugly tears. We all needed this! I'm so proud of the Hot Springs School District and our kids and their families," Sallie Culbreth said in another Facebook post.
Local on 04/03/2020