Parkrose teachers hold ‘car parade’

Find out why teachers and staff with Prescott Elementary School decided to parade though neighborhood streets, and how this was received …

In the Parkrose neighborhood, Prescott Elementary School staff get ready for a “car parade” through miles the district’s outer East Portland streets.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Saying that they were missing their students, teachers and staff members from one of the Parkrose School District facilities, Prescott Elementary School, organized a “car parade” at noon on April 3.

The group gathered in the Mt. Hood Community College Maywood Campus parking lot, east of NE 102nd Avenue, to decorate their vehicles and greet each other – maintaining a safe social distance in doing so.

Getting ready for the parade, here’s Prescott Elementary School Principal Sam Maranto.

“This came about because the entire staff wanted to do something for our school community, to let our students know that we miss them, and that we care about their families,” said Principal Sam Maranto, as he decorated his family’s car.

“We’re hoping that students and parents feel a sense of pride and community knowing that we are still here, and working hard for their education,” Maranto told East Portland News.

“We miss you all, and please stay well,” is the message 2nd grade teacher Wenna Jacobson makes clear, as she decorates her car.

Then two cruisers from the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division arrived to help guide the procession through Parkrose neighborhood streets.

The motor procession started off heading east on NE Prescott Street, before looping through the City of Maywood Park, and then heading north to the Prescott Elementary School’s catchment boundary.

The Prescott Elementary School parade is off and rolling!

Sharing a message of caring, those parade proceed.

The lineup of decorated cars, with horns honking and those inside cheering, turned and headed east, to NE 115th Avenue, looping through neighborhood streets.

“The reactions to our parade were incredibly positive and uplifting,” Maranto commented after the event. “People were crying tears of joy, laughing, and had such an amazing response; it literally was ‘what the doctor ordered’!” he said.

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