Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the staff and faculty at Coxsackie Elementary School greeted students and families as a line of vehicles reached up Sunset Boulevard and deep into Mansion Street May 1, as they all headed to the school to greet teachers in a Ride the Wave parade. Families drove a slow loop around the parking lot as teachers waved, cheered and called out greetings. Many carried signs of encouragement and some wore costumes to cheer up students. “I want my students to know how much I miss them and love them,” one teacher said. The parade took place about two hours before Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that schools would remain closed through the end of the academic year. Physical education teacher Don McDonald will retire from the district in June. “I am at a point where I am retiring, and I am really, really sad that my career has to end this way,” he said. Staff and faculty have made an effort to stay connected with students and families during the shutdown, communicating in previous weeks through video and personalized cards. The reverse parade, which brought elementary students and families to the school, was the most recent effort to connect with students. Some students were unable to attend the parade, so the event was also live streamed. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.