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TEACHERS ON PARADE
New Haven students wave to teaches as they pass by
new haven teach parade

A few New Haven Elementary School families gathered in the Raymus Village neighborhood Wednesday just to catch a glimpse of their teachers.

Principal David O’Leary along with his teachers and staff made the rounds in the afternoon by parading through the various roads in the attendance boundary area of the rural Manteca Unified kindergarten- through- eighth- grade campus.

The route started at 2 o’clock, going from Southland Road towards the Highway 99 frontage and Kingsley Road, traveling south along the freeway to West Lathrop Road in Manteca.

It was there at Pueblo Drive and Blackfoot Way that the families of Cassie Ramirez and Grace Sebastian settled in with their children.

Sebastian’s daughter, Sophia, is a third grader in Melissa Rangel’s class. She and her little brother Andrew waved enthusiastically as the motorcade passed through Raymus Village.

“She misses her teacher,” said her mom Grace.

Ditto that for second-grade student Briella Ramirez, in regards to her teacher Mardy White.

She along with her sister Brinley – she’ll be a kindergarten at New Haven come next school year – and mom, Cassie, made signs to mark the occasion.

“We miss you all – lots of kisses,” said Briella’s hand-held message on the poster board.

Brinley’s sign read: “I love you teacher – stay safe!”

Students, for the most part, last saw their teachers on March 13.

Soon after, San Joaquin County Office of Education Superintendent of Schools James Mousalimas, in accordance to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home orders and the recommendations from the various health agencies, called for the closure of all public schools in the county to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

The 25,000 students in the Manteca Unified School District will start long distance learning on Monday.

The Ramirez and Sebastian families both live in the rural areas, opting for the quieter streets of Raymus Village along the parade route.

Cassie Ramirez indicated that this was the first time her children have been out of the house since the stay-at-home orders.

“They’ve learned a lot about cooking and making certain dishes,” she said.

Grace Sebastian has been home from her work in Turlock since the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’ve done a lot of cleaning around the house and learned about responsibility,” she said of her time with the children.

The Weston Ranch community is planning a similar-type parade on Friday.

Teachers and staff from August Knodt, George Komure, Great Valley and Weston Ranch High, beginning at 2 p.m., will drive along McCuen Avenue, Henry Long Boulevard, Carolyn Weston Boulevard, William Moss Boulevard and McDougald Boulevard to wave “hi” to the students and families of the southwest Stockton community.

At the same time, they’re urging all to practice social distancing and other health precaution during these unprecedented times.