Rewind: Somerset Academy Christmas parade

One of the parents at Somerset Parkland Academy, Jennifer Knight, approached the school the week before Thanksgiving with an idea to bring the on-campus kids together with the virtual students at one fun holiday event to give the kids a sense of normalcy during this crazy 2020 year.

With the support of Principal Geyler Castro and Vice- Principal Meg Campbell, Jennifer began raising money through sponsorships and in-kind donations to bring the Winter Caravan to life. She recruited her husband, Patrick, to deal with all the logistics and set-up work and the project began to grow in size and scope as they had to plan how to entertain nearly 200 cars coming through a caravan before they even reached the final stations ofPolar Express, Hanukkah, Frozen, Grinch, Candyland, Santa’s Workshop, and the Photo with Santa.

On December 17, 2020, each attendee made their way around the school parking lot, while enjoying costumed characters and stilt walkers parading around the caravan. DJ Cruz provided a fun Christmas light show with games.

Somerset Parkland wanted to end the year with flair as this Winter Caravan is another creative idea to allow the virtual students to experience the same holiday event as the in-person students.

At the end of the day, it was all for the kids and the joy on their faces made it all worth it.

Somerset Parkland Academy plans a Christmas “Winter Caravan to North Pole” celebration for their students

On December 17, 2020, the Somerset Parkland Academy will host a fun and creative holiday celebration in its latest innovative solution to bring brick and mortar kids together with virtual students. From 4:30pm–8:30 pm, the school will host a drive-thru Winter Caravan to the North Pole–Covid Style.

Students and their families can attend the event from the comfort and safety of their vehicles. Each car will make their way around the school parking lot, while enjoying costumed characters and stilt-walkers parading around the caravan, a Christmas light show with celebrity DJ Cruz, games that can be played from afar, throwing pies at teacher’s faces, and food truck galore.

Somerset Parkland Academy is a first-year charter school that opened its doors during the craziest times in 2020. Right away the school was forced to start with all virtual classes from  K-6th grade. Within 2 months, the school transitioned to a hybrid model with both brick and mortar students and remote-learning virtual students.

Somerset Parkland wanted to end the year with a flair as this Winter Caravan is another creative idea to allow the virtual students to experience the same holiday event as the in-person students.

Project Coordinator:  Jennifer Knight

(305)-469-8854 or jenniferharrisknight@gmail.com

Principal: Geyler Castro

(954)-718-3391 or gcastro@somersetparklandacademy.com