Mooseheart teachers parade brings smiles to students

The weather couldn't dampen the smiles many students wore Tuesday during the special drive-by teacher parade at Mooseheart Child City and School.

The parade was part of the National Teachers Day celebration at the school, and teachers decorated their vehicles with balloons, signs and streamers. They honked horns and waved as they passed the assembled students.

Cloe Abraham, 5, was so excited she jumped up and down when she saw her teacher.

The teachers have not been on-campus since mid-March, when Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all learning in the state to be done remotely.

Mooseheart's student body, normally around 200 children, lives on the campus near Batavia. Fifty students have been given permission by parents or guardians to stay there through the pandemic.

"The students live in family homes of 10 or less, and, other than their family teachers, they don't have contact with people who don't wear masks," Mooseheart spokesman Darryl Mellema said.

After two months away from campus, Mooseheart's teachers returned for Tuesday's parade to see the students lining the sidewalk.

"What a great event for our teachers to be able to see the kids smiling and for them to be able to reciprocate by beeping their horns and waving. What a healthy thing that is in this time. We were able to say that even though we're not seeing them each day any more, we're still thinking and caring about them," Mooseheart Executive Director Gary Urwiler said.