INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — For a joyful two hours Friday, the Indian River County School District’s “Drive By, Say Hi” pep rally banished the coronavirus gloom.
Hundreds of masked teachers, staff and principals, from 22 Indian River County schools and the District office, including superintendent Dr. David Moore, stood waving and shouting, all the way around the Indian River Mall, celebrating the elementary-through-high school students they haven’t seen in weeks with signs and banners, wearing school colors, as hundreds of students and parents drove slowly past, honking horns and yelling greetings, many students and teachers seeing each other for the last time.
“We miss you! We love you! We’re so proud of you!”
The rally was held in this way to promote social distancing in efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The parent/student parade included graduating seniors, some wearing mortarboards, and a large contingent of Sheriff’s cruisers, fire rescue vehicles and fire engines, sirens wailing and lights flashing.
Deputies handled traffic as the line of cars stretched east past Walmart. It was a joyful, noisy, heartwarming celebration of students, families and the community, a brilliant brief moment overflowing with love and hope.
A highlight of our @IRCSchools "Drive By & Say Hi Pep Rally" on Friday evening was seeing all the graduating seniors who came out to celebrate their accomplishments! This is a tribute to the SDIRC Senior Class of 2020! @SRHS_SHARKS @VBHSNation @Wabasso_School pic.twitter.com/7JeWJCdD02
— Dr. David K. Moore (@SDIRC_SUP) May 2, 2020
Photos by Kaila Jones
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
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- Hundreds of cars filled with students and parents drove around the Indian River Mall May 1, 2020, during the school districts, “Drive by and and say hi,” pep rally. The parade of cars, covered in homemade posters carried students as they hung out of the windows and stood through the sunroofs of vehicles giving teachers, graduating seniors, middle and elementary school students the chance to see their teachers one last time before summer break due to the abrupt ending of their school year in the wake of COVID-19.[Kaila Jones/32963]
