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BELLVILLE — It’s an unusual senior year for the class of 2020. Students are wrapping up their classes online, missing spring sports and musicals, wondering what will become of traditions like prom and commencement.
Nevertheless, the senior class at Clear Fork High School got a unique celebration Friday night — their very own parade.
The parade was organized by a local mom, Jenifer Howell, who brought the idea to the village mayors and police departments.
“Being a mom of a senior, it is heartbreaking to see these kids grow up and then not get to experience all of the final senior memories,” she said. “They needed something that was theirs.”
The parade was arranged in just a few days in order to correspond with the high school lighting up its scoreboard in the seniors’ honor. The senior caravan was escorted by local police and fire trucks, horns blaring, as supporters cheered from along the parade route.
Senior Sam Brandes described the parade as a silver lining of sorts.
“I’ve been hoping something positive and good would come out of (COVID-19) and something very good came out of it tonight,” he said.
“I got to see family, old friends and I hadn’t seen in a long time, middle school and elementary school teachers and principals. Seeing them all out there, lined up to support the seniors was very moving.”
Senior Kaitlyn Howell said she’s disappointed at the thought of not having a graduation ceremony. Nevertheless, she’s been encouraged by the community’s response.
“In these times, you see how strong our community is together, even when we have to be six feet apart,” Howell said. “Even if we don’t get the same way to celebrate as previous classes, we get to have our own thing and our own celebrations.
“Like what class has gotten their own parade before?!”
“People have let us know that the class of 2020 is stronger than COVID and no matter if we get to graduate together or apart we know we are always valley strong and I think that’s something really special.”
Fellow senior Savannah Wade agreed.
“Growing up in a small town, things like this happen all of the time. When our baseball team went to state four years ago they were escorted back to the school after regional finals game,” Wade said. “Just knowing how much the valley cares about all of us and wanted to see us happy and succeed means the world to us, it’s like having a huge family that has your back and will always be there to pick you up when you are down or to celebrate with you.”
Brian Brown, principal at Clear Fork High School, was impressed with the way the seniors and community have responded to COVID-19.
“I am extremely proud of the senior class, their families and these two communities. What a great show of support. This is how you respond to adversity and this is what makes the valley such a great place.”
