close

A proper goodbye: Bethel Park faculty, staff members hit streets to greet students

1 min read
1 / 7

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Kindergarten teacher Jamie Ferris puts the finishing touches on her “Have a magical summer” message to Abraham Lincoln Elementary School students.

2 / 7

Harry Funk/The Almanac

First-grade teacher Dawn Douds joins the parade.

3 / 7

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Third-grade teachers Kim DeBald, left, and Patti Esposito get ready to hit the road.

4 / 7

Harry Funk/The Almanac

First-grade teacher Lisa Nath is all smiles for the occasion.

5 / 7

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Teachers Adele Amorosa, left, and Orietta Kubrick get ready to greet their students during the parade. Joining them is Susan Wholey.

6 / 7

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Former Abraham Lincoln Elementary student Abby Richert joins the festivities with words of encouragement. Her mother, Lisa, works at the school.

7 / 7

Harry Funk/The Almanac

The Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company has participated in plenty of parades as of late.

The typical school year sometimes ends in late May, and definitely by sometime in June.

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Bethel Park School District reading specialist Rebekah Seewald displays a warm greeting for Abraham Lincoln students.

Of course, COVID-19 made 2019-20 different than any year preceding it.

When students throughout Pennsylvania left their schools on the afternoon of March 13, they didn’t know they wouldn’t be returning.

For fourth-graders at Bethel Park’s elementary schools, that meant they would be heading for Neil Armstrong Middle School later this year, without a real opportunity to say goodbye to their teachers and buildings where many of them had spent the past five years.

And so the teachers have been coming to them.

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School kicked off June with a parade on the first day of the month. Led by Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company trucks, the process included faculty and staff members who traveled through the community, waving and wishing the fourth-graders and other students well.

Throughout the region, similar events have been organized to help compensate for the school year’s abrupt conclusion, at least as far as attending classes in person. And the big hope for everyone is that when 2020-21 starts, attending in person will be possible again.

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Abraham Lincoln fourth-graders are headed to Neil Armstrong Middle School later this year.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $/week.

Subscribe Today