School ended abruptly for millions of California kids, including thousands in the Fresno area, as the coronavirus pandemic surged through the state.

Kristen Belknap, principal at Freedom Elementary School in Clovis, said students and teachers were at school on a Friday, “like it was a normal day,” but they never got to come back after the weekend.

“That was really hard for our teachers and students,” she said.

Clovis has closed its doors through at least May. Fresno and Central Unified will keep campuses dark for the rest of the school year.

In the sudden new era of social distancing and online learning, teachers are looking for new ways to stay in touch and connect with students. Educators are posting videos on social media, creating new websites and hosting small-group Zoom sessions.

And many others all over Fresno County and beyond are organizing cheerful social-distancing parades.

Teachers and principals are getting in their cars and forming caravans through neighborhoods, waving at their students.

It’s not just for schools, of course; Friday, for instance, Corvette club members and many others came out to wish a happy birthday to the former Fresno McGruff the Crime Dog now in hospice.

But parades have been most noticeable in neighborhoods around schools, from Clovis to tiny West Park Elementary just west of Fresno.

Alyssa Martinez, a third-grade teacher at West Park, said it was important for teachers to see their students while keeping each other safe.

“Teachers have just really, really, really been missing our students,” she told The Bee. “We wanted to make sure we brought some regular cheer out to them as well.”

Belknap, the Freedom principal, said, “This was a little bit of an opportunity to have some of that normalcy. You can’t see people’s emotions in an email right now. A huge part of the classroom is not just the work, the learning, and the standards; it’s that social, emotional piece that all our teachers pour into their students every day.”

Teachers and staff use email and Zoom to coordinate parade details, including routes, days and time.

As teacher caravans parade through neighborhoods, students go to the window or stand in their driveways and wave at their teachers.

Belknap said some students make signs to show to their teachers when they drive by. Other students play music from their homes in a sort of social-distance block party.

The parades help teachers connect with their students and remind them they “care and are there for them.”

“There is a high level of fatigue, anxiety, and frustration from our community,” Clovis Unified Communications Director Kelly Avants said.

She said all over the state of California, distance learning has been a struggle. The parades help keep students connected and engaged while also observing social distance rules. She said the district had not been given any guidance from the state not to do the parades.

Caravan parades are being planned all over Fresno County. On Wednesday, Freedom Elementary had its parade. On Thursday, Temperance Kutner on the southeast outskirts of Fresno had its parade, the same day West Park did its parade.

Central Unified schools also have a series of parades.

“The community has been supportive and the students have been thrilled to see their teachers in person, albeit from a distance,” Central Unified Communications Manager Sonja Dosti said.

“For any person who works in education, this experience is difficult and heartbreaking. We all become very invested in the lives of students and want the best for them. We know these current events present numerous challenges for our students and families,” she said.

Belknap said the parades are helping families and children cope through this time of social distancing. She has received emails from parents thanking the school for stopping by their neighborhood.

“We’re trying to extend out to our community,” Belknap said, “and let them know, we’re still here, we still love you guys, we miss you tremendously.”

The Education Lab is a local journalism initiative that highlights education issues critical to the advancement of the San Joaquin Valley. It is funded by donors. Learn more at www.fresnobee.com/education-lab.

This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 4:35 PM.