Virginia teacher honors 2020 graduates with elaborate light display in front yard
Kindergarten teacher is honoring her former students in the 2020 senior class.
A Virginia teacher is going above and beyond to honor the class of 2020 with an elaborate light display in her front yard.
Heather Gigliotti has been a teacher at McGaheysville Elementary School in McGaheysville, Virginia, for 29 years. Now a reading specialist at the school, Gigliotti taught kindergarten until 2008. The last kindergarten class she taught is now part of the 2020 graduating class at East Rockingham High School.
When their graduation was canceled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Gigliotti wanted to make sure this group of students -- whom she feels a special connection to -- felt loved and appreciated despite the circumstances.
"This group of kids just matter," Gigliotti said. "It was just an amazing group of kids and parents that always went above and beyond to take care of each other and people in our community. This group, because it was my last kindergarten class, they have a special place in my heart."
Gigliotti’s brother-in-law, who is a teacher in New York, told her how his community was honoring their 2020 seniors with a campaign called #BeTheLight. Every night at 8:20 p.m., which is 20:20 in military time, the lights on the school football field go on for 20 minutes and the community is encouraged to turn their porch lights on in solidarity to honor the senior class.
Gigliotti brought this idea to the athletic director at East Rockingham High School and he decided that their school would also take part. Although the community was encouraged to turn on their porch lights, Gigliotti knew she wanted her nightly display to be extra special.
She purchased 210 tiny candles along with bags and a friend gave her 300 glass yogurt jars to hold the candles in. Gigliotti wrote the names of each of her former kindergarten students on a bag and placed those in a heart at the front of her yard. She then wrote the names of the remaining 2008 McGaheysville Elementary School kindergarteners from other classes on bags and placed them in an arch in the back. The remaining candles without bags represent the rest of East Rockingham’s graduating class, with candles in the display for her two nieces and nephew who are also graduating this year.
Gigliotti and her husband light all 210 candles each night before the 8:20 p.m. window and leave them on until the candles burn out. The first night, it took them 45 minutes to get the display illuminated. Although it may seem like a lot of effort, Gigliotti says it's worth it.
"My main goal is to make sure that they feel loved and that their parents feel loved," Gigliotti said. "Once they have me as a teacher they’re my kids forever."
Gigliotti's favorite part of the experience has been having her former students drive by the display and getting to have conversations with them. Before the first night, she sent a personal letter to each of her former students saying congratulations and inviting them to come by and see her display.
"It’s been a blessing to be able to talk to them ... remember when and what I see for them in the future," Gigliotti said. "I’ve been connected with them through their sporting events and musicals when they invite me, but it’s nice to have a one-on-one personal conversation with them."
For other 2020 graduates who may be experiencing a difficult time right now, Gigliotti has a message.
"They need to know that they’re not alone and we’re in this together," Gigliotti said. "I know for sure that I love them and they have people that are going to take care of them and help them through their next phase of their life."
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