UPDATE (Thursday, May 7, 2020): This story has been updated to indicate Monday's parade was for Teacher Appreciation Week, not Ms Sullivan's birthday.

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With the help of their parents, students launched Teacher Appreciation Week with a surprise parade for a Sandy Hook Elementary School teacher.

Connie Sullivan was inside her home early Monday afternoon, May 4, working on her computer, when she heard a steady stream of horns approaching her home. A few minutes later, as the cacophony increased, Sullivan stepped outside her home. A quizzical look on her face was quickly followed by a huge smile, as she began recognizing those in the line of vehicles slowly making their way past her.

Children stood up and waved through sunroofs or held signs from the side windows of the slowly moving vehicles. Her eyes tearing, Sullivan quickly began waving back to the vehicles as they slowly continued past her.

“I don't know what to say,” she was heard saying. “Thank you all. I miss you too!” Parents had to turn their vehicles around in order to return to the main road they had turned from in order to access the home of the fourth grade teacher. This gave everyone a second opportunity to wave and offer greetings to the educator on the second day of Teacher Appreciation Week, which is observed May 3-9.

In return, Sullivan continued waving and blowing kisses to the surprise guests. All families remained in their vehicles, and Sullivan stayed in her driveway, but the emotion between everyone was palpable.

As they passed the second time, most of the children dropped their homemade signs and cards for their teacher to retrieve. One family also stopped long enough to place a potted plant in the driveway of Sullivan’s home before returning to the brief but very memorable parade.