The day ahead of they were being scheduled to be striding throughout a phase, getting diplomas and applause, Hoffman Estates Higher School seniors alternatively marked their graduation Wednesday by driving gradually by way of their school parking great deal, waving at masked and cheering teachers.

It was one more unique working experience in unprecedented instances for the Class of 2020.

Principal Josh Schumacher explained school leaders wished to do something unique for their 465 graduates.

“We care a whole lot for our seniors, and in the recent ecosystem, we’ve not been capable to do a lot of the traditional functions, so we required to established just one up wherever we could retain everybody safe but also continue to give them a celebration and some closure,” he said.

And it worked for the employees as perfectly.

“Everybody’s missing every other,” he claimed.

Some students drove on their own, but most arrived with their households. A lot of rode in decorated vehicles, and some even wore caps and gowns.

“I am energized to see all my kids, but it is a incredibly bittersweet working day,” said science instructor Suzanne Fetherling, who greeted each of her students with a cheer and a high kick. “My little ones have labored so really hard this calendar year that it is unhappy to see it end this way, but with any luck , this can be a minor little bit of closure for them.”

Math instructor Kyle Engles experimented with to search on the dazzling side.

“My original response was that I sense so terrible for these seniors simply because they skip out on points like prom and graduation and stuff like that, but you will find even now some thing to be mentioned for all these instructors coming out and wishing them properly,” he reported. “Even though this is not a classic graduation, it is some thing they will remember for the rest of their life.”