LUMBERTON — Magnolia Elementary School took a new route on Friday to celebrate their graduating students, who received their certificates to the sound of parents honking their vehicle horns.

Graduates from pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and eighth grade were honored in the school’s first drive-thru graduation celebrations, Principal Charles Locklear said. About 32 prekindergarten, 60 kindergarten and 70 graduating eighth-graders were represented Friday, each group of students in their own drive-thru ceremony.

“It was wonderful,” Locklear said.

The drive-thru celebrations began with pre-kindergarten students from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Locklear said. Graduating eighth-graders took the second slot from 10 a.m. to noon and kindergarten students graduated from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“We just wanted to make it convenient for parents,” the principal said.

Scheduling graduations on the same day helped parents with children graduating from separate grade levels get time off from work to attend.

Music was played over the outdoor public address system, and the names of children were announced as their parents honked their horns. One parent even drove his tractor, on which he had attached balloons, through the line. Students also could be seen taking photos under tents during the celebration.

“Students were able to get out of vehicles to receive their certificate and goody bags and then walk to a photo booth for photos before getting back into their vehicles,” said Lakola Cook, an eighth-grade math teacher at the school.

Locklear said staff members and parents “loved it” and plans are in place for a similar celebration next year.

“Everyone enjoyed the drive-thru and many requested that we do the same thing again next year,” Cook said.

Surveys will be sent out soon to parents to get their feedback and help plan the next event, Locklear said.

“We are already in the planning stages for next year and how we can make it bigger,” he said.