CANFIELD — Friday was a day of celebration for the Cardinal community, marking the end of the district’s graduation festivities.

A procession from St. Michael Church to the green and back took place during the day, organized by alerting students via social media and working with Canfield city officers.

Kathryn Scott wanted to give the graduates an opportunity to see that their community is behind them.

Her first born daughter, Breianna Harnishfeger, is also a graduate at Canfield, so the sentiment is near and dear to her heart.

Scott encouraged students to decorate their vehicles or wear their caps and gowns — “Whatever they want,” she said.

One of the students who attended was Karaline Lisowski, 18. She was joined by sister Katelyn, mom Kim and dad Ed.

“We’re very proud of her. They’ve had a hard final few months and doing things like this just kind of gives them closure,” Kim said of the students. Their last weeks of school were spent at home, learning virtually, because of stay-at-home orders and COVID-19.

Karaline will attend the University of Pittsburgh, studying biology and pre-dental courses.

Later in the evening, teachers from the district surprised the graduates by standing on the side of U.S. Route 224, holding signs, dancing and cheering them on as they arrived at the high school for a drive-in. Vehicles parked in the terraced parking lot, watching on a giant screen a video compiled over the last several weeks.

One of those teachers is Judy Parsons, a math teacher at Canfield Village Middle School.

Donning a rain coat and shoes, Parsons held a sign up as students passed by, joyously greeting them.

“I just wanted to be here to support the kids. When you have them, they’re always your kids,” she said, noting she’s had many of this year’s graduates in the past.