Dorri Partain
Contributor

On Thursday, May 21, teachers and staff at Gladstone Elementary decorated their cars with balloons, streamers, and signs to create a car parade to celebrate the last day of school for students. The hour-long procession of decorated cars honked, waved and flashed their lights while snaking along neighborhood streets past the waiting student’s homes.

Kansas City Public Schools superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell joined the celebration, as did school district board Treasurer Manny Abarca.

“Each car honk, and sign invoked raw emotion from every student, parent, or lonely neighbor who stepped outside to see the amazing event! Kudos to the entire Gladstone staff, and to the James [Elementary} staff who did the same thing earlier in the week.,” Abarca stated afterward.

For several blocks, the pumper truck and firefighters from Station 23 tailed the parade to add to the revelry.

To be sure all of Gladstone’s 425 students were included, smaller groups of teachers broke off from the grand procession to say goodbye to students last seen in class prior to spring break.