New Kensington-Arnold teachers delay plans for motor vehicle parade to see students

Editor’s note: Officials delayed the event after this story was originally published. It will likely be rescheduled.

Separated from their students by the state closure of schools, teachers in the New Kensington-Arnold School District are planning a parade so their students can see them.

Teachers, administrators and other staff are expected to take part in the parade Thursday.

“I miss those kids. Those kids miss me,” said Lindsey Zarichnak, a third-grade teacher at Roy A. Hunt Elementary School. “I thought if they could see our faces, even if it’s from a window, we’re going to give them a sense of normalcy through this craziness.”

Zarichnak, who lives in Allegheny Township, said she got the idea from her sister, Haley Rosa, through Facebook, where the idea was among others going around.

“She was like, ‘You guys should do this,” Zarichnak said. “I started texting everybody. We all pitched in ideas.”

Participants in the parade will start gathering around 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot at Valley High School, where Zarichnak said they’ll stay in their cars and not mingle.

They’ll head out at 1 p.m. and go to the Mt. Vernon neighborhood first, said Lauren Irvin, a former kindergarten teacher in the district who is now its gifted coordinator.

They’ll make their way through New Kensington and Arnold.

Zarichnak said they’ll hang signs on their windows so students know who is inside each car.

Students should not run up to cars; they can wave from their windows or porches.

“We’re going to try to hit as many streets as we can fit down,” she said.

As of Tuesday, between 50 and 60 people were expected to be participating. Hunt Principal Thomas Rocchi is among them, Zarichnak said.

Irvin said they won’t be able to get to every street, and it won’t be possible to reach every single student, but they’ll do their best to get to every neighborhood.

“I hope even if they’re taking a walk they get a glimpse of us,” she said.

Zarichnak hopes the parade brings smiles, and less worry for at least a day.

“They’re used to seeing our faces every day,” she said. “We want them to know we’re thinking about them.”