The eight graduating sixth graders at Southport Central School were driven around the island and received cheers from family, friends and residents early Thursday evening, June 4. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional graduation ceremony at Southport Town Hall couldn’t be held safely, so the school staff found an another way to celebrate the graduating class.

The students were in decorated cars driven by their parents; Harry Hinckley, however, rode on a fire truck driven by his stepfather Adam Harkins. Leading the parade was Southport Fire Chief Gerry Gamage, who engaged other department members to drive other fire trucks for the parade.

The parade started at Robinson’s Wharf and went nearly around the island, but detoured across Cross Road due to the Thompson Bridge construction. Along the route, the memorial near the school was decorated with inflatable plastic seals (the school’s mascot) and colorful streamers. And Ramona Gaudette, who was the cook at the school for over 50 years, was a passenger in a car and shook a tamborine.

It was a sunny night and the graduates beamed as they rode past parade watchers.

Congratulations to the SCS graduates: Abby Amaral, Lilly Burnham, Sarah Harris, Harry Hinkley, Eleanor Marshall, Cameron Payson, Trey Tibbetts and Ella Watts.