Strong Rock Christian School is just one of the many area schools looking for unique ways to honor their seniors during the coronavirus pandemic. 

  On Wednesday, May 20, Strong Rock Christian School hosted a senior parade for their 55 graduating seniors.

  A long line of decorated cars, eighteen wheelers and firetrucks greeted the seniors lining Strong Rock Parkway, the entrance road leading to Strong Rock Christian School. 

  “We had our seniors sitting all along the parkway. We had signs made for each senior so they would know where they could sit,” said Rebecca Dervan, Director of Marketing and Development at Strong Rock Christian School. 

  Family members, teachers, grandparents, and students from other grade levels took part in the parade, holding homemade signs and offering their congratulations to the students.

  Trina Barton, mother of Strong Rock Christian School senior Mitchell Barton, said that she is grateful that the seniors were honored in this special way. 

  “It was a great way to honor the senior class while allowing people to congratulate them at a distance,” said Trina. “What I enjoyed most was driving by and seeing each student’s face radiating with excitement. I think Strong Rock has gone above and beyond for them.”

  Principal Darrell Herring said that the seniors have had to pass up on a number of school traditions this year, to include their walk through of each school grade level on their last day as seniors.

  “We typically have a senior walk at the school on their last day of attendance. That means that they get in their graduation gown and walk the hallway of the elementary school, through the middle school hallway and completing the walk on the high school hallway,” said Herring. “When we could not do that because of the distance learning that was going on, we talked about ideas and the senior parade came up.” 

  Herring said that there was an amazing turnout at the parade and was touched by the response from the families and the community.

  “When it finally came to the day, I was amazed at the turnout that we had,” said Herring. “ It just shows what a great family Strong Rock is and we all love our seniors.”

  Herring said the parade was “one of the greatest moments” in his career of education. “I was so giddy with excitement to see the parents and kids again. I was smiling. It was a moment in time that I will never forget. Being able to see them back on campus, it was a precious moment to me.”

  Principal Herring said that he hopes the parade will become a new tradition for the seniors in the years to come. “I cannot tell you how many seniors and their parents said we need to do this every year. It has added to our recognition moment for our seniors. We have started a tradition with this class of 2020 that will, hopefully, go on for a long time.”

  Following the parade, a special ceremony was held on the football field for the seniors. Family members, faculty, and staff gathered in the stands, while the students stood on the field. 

  An address was given to the students by the Head of School, Paul McCracken, and President, David Mann. The 55 seniors then released balloons at the culmination of the ceremony.

  For senior Mitchell Barton, the ceremony was a touching conclusion to his senior year. 

  “My expectations were blown out of the water. I had not been on the field since football season. I also felt like releasing the balloons, it was almost like turning your tassel over,” said Mitchell. “Having that many people be able to see me go from a high school senior to almost out in the real world by letting go of that balloon, it felt really awesome.”

  Strong Rock Christian School hopes to hold a junior/senior prom, baccalaureate service and a graduation ceremony in June, while also adhering to CDC guidelines for safety.