Kinder Magic staff greets students, parents in drive-thru celebration

COEUR d’ALENE — When Marina Myers emerged from the sunroof of the SUV driven by her mom, she had a big smile, a big wave — and a big picture.

And as she held up the colorful painting of a rainbow, clouds, the sun and even a few raindrops, Kinder Magic owners Pam Pereira and Amy D’Orazi blew “magical kisses” and cried.

“We miss you so much,” said Pereira, wearing a green fairy costume.

D’Orazi held her hands to her heart, paused, and held back tears.

“This means so much,” she said Friday during a 30-minute demonstration and reunion of sorts in front of the pre-k to kindergarten at Second and Miller.

“We just miss our kids so much. We are staying connected as best we can and finding new ways to make that happen.”

Teachers at Kinder Magic gathered to wave, cheer and shout encouraging words to students and parents as they circled through the parking lot.

There was a steady procession of vehicles and kids responded with grins and held out their hands.

“Hi guys,” yelled Tamara Orlandi, music teacher. “I’m so excited to see all these faces today.”

Tyler Alvarado joined son Kade, a kindergartner, and daughter Andee, a preschooler, in the truck bed to greet teachers while wife Ciera and son Benson, 1, and their dog were in the cab.

“It’s awesome our kids get to interact with their teachers and fellow classmates,” Tyler Alvarado said.

The Alvarado kids are doing well at home and playing outside, he said.

“But they are excited to get back to their normal life with their friends and teachers,” Alvarado said.

Teacher Kim Polfer, with sons Paxton and Clement at her side, was greeting students with cheers. Her goal was to “bring sunshine to their day.”

“We just wanted to see our kids,” she said. “We miss them so much. And I think it’s good for them to see us and see their school and see that we’re still here for them.”

Kinder Magic, in its 22nd year and with about 60 students, is keeping in touch via Zoom.

Orlandi is holding Wednesday sessions online with students, but she said seeing them in person, even from a distance, made her day.

“My heart is very full, absolutely full today,” she said.

An emotional Pereira said “the whole day is magical.”

It’s been tough to be out of touch with her students, so she’s been sending handwritten notes to students.

In those notes, she encourages the kids to be joyful.

“We always say choose a rainbow,” Pereira said

Marina Myers did.

She painted her picture at home and held it high on Friday for all at Kinder Magic to see.

When her mom asked her how she liked staying at home, Marina said:

“I want to be with my friends and my teachers.”