Grandparents receive insight to students’ routines

Grandparents roam the campus as students and staff welcome seniors to the 28th annual FC Grandparents Day, Sept. 20. Each year, Grandparents Day provides a chance for families to spend time with each other and observe students’ daily routine in the classroom. This tradition offers Fresno Christian an opportunity to show gratitude toward their guests and thank them for the role they play in students’ lives.

After arriving on campus, grandparents receive their grandchildren’s schedules and help themselves to a small breakfast assortment featuring Dutch Bros. coffee and various pastries. Following this, a special grandparents chapel led by the campus worship team kicks off the festivities. After finding their students, families receive a tour from their grandchild and an inside look at the student’s daily routine.

The appeal of Grandparents Day for many seniors includes the ability to spend time in the FC environment. Edmund and Mary Janzen previously participated in the event and enjoy seeing the atmosphere their three grandchildren go to school in. They also appreciate the connection between FC and many of the teachers’ alma mater, Fresno Pacific University.

“We have been here once or twice before,” Edmund said. “It is a wonderful place, very affirming and supportive and the teachers are excellent and the people are very friendly. Our grandkids love the school and if they love it, we love it. For many years I worked at Fresno Pacific University and many of their graduates work as teachers here at FCS now. Because of that, we have a sort of connection between Fresno Pacific and Fresno Christian.”

The following podcast features Kyle Clem discussing the importance of Grandparents Day with Carole Graham.

One of the highlights for grandparents includes touring the classrooms and being able to spend time and learn alongside their grandchildren. Denise and Jerry Osborn attended for the last four years and appreciate the emphasis FC places on providing grandparents a role in the students’ education.

“I like going into the classrooms and seeing the things they’ve done,”  Denise said. “They are very proud to show us. [Grandparents Day] shows a relationship. A family needs grandparents as well, they’re very important in the grandchildren’s lives and we play a role in their schooling and education as well.”

Jerry appreciates the value that students have for their family after Grandparent’s Day. While some students stay after lunch for the remaining school day, some students depart with grandparents.

“It’s good to let the kids know that the grandparents are being honored and having a special day for us,” Jerry said. “We don’t get to see them as often as we’d like; we can show them we are going to be here as often as we can and Grandparents Day is a perfect day to be here.”

An hour-long lunchtime allows students to spend time with their grandparents and talk before continuing on with their day. Fresno Christian provided lunch for students and grandparents while additional eating spaces were set up in the Student Ministries Center and courtyard.

While some grandparents were unable to come, students still appreciate the memories made with their grandparents. Carson Ochs, ‘21, spends time with his grandparents every January when they take a family trip to Disneyland. Ochs values these memories and appreciates this time spent with family.

“My grandparents take me and my cousins to Disneyland in January every year,” Ochs said. “That has become our family vacation. I enjoy being able to be with them and we’re able to talk, go on rides and get food together. My parents will go, my aunts and uncles will go and I really enjoy just being able to spend time together as a family with them.”

While high school has changed dramatically in the last 50 years, some grandparents never attended a true high school. Susan Pittenger, mother of FC math teacher Angie Counts and grandmother of Annabelle Counts, ‘23, studied at home and took correspondence classes. Pittenger also values the experience of witnessing God on the FC campus.

“I love being with our grandchildren here together with all the other grandparents and just seeing what God has done in everyone’s life,” Pittenger said. “I actually didn’t go to high school, I studied at home and did correspondence classes because my mom and dad were missionaries overseas. So, I can’t say what has changed since I was growing up.”

During this year’s Grandparents Day, a little under 5oo seniors joined in and spent time with their grandchildren.

Grandparents Day was a success! A little under 500 grandparents attended @fresnochristian’s 28th annual celebration. Thank you to everyone who participated in today’s event! #TheFeather pic.twitter.com/zLe2ZhMtE1

— The Feather Online (@thefeather) September 20, 2019

Some grandparents came for their student’s final Grandparents Day. Inga Johns, grandmother of five at FCS, celebrates Grandparents Day with her eldest grandchild, Braden Bell, ‘20, for the last time. Johns appreciates the lower population at FC compared to her high school while growing up. She also sees the value in displaying her support of her grandchildren through Grandparents Day.

“My freshman year in high school I had over 2,000 in my beginning class and over 800 in my graduation,” Johns said. “So it was a very big school. I was a little teeny fish in a big, big pond and I liked it that way, I didn’t want to be noticed. I like this because it’s small, the teachers know all the kids and they pray for the kids. I think it helps us connect with the school as well as seeing our grandchildren in the environment that they spend most of the day in. I think it’s important for them to see our support.”

For some, the importance found in Grandparents Day comes from the ability for grandchildren to ask questions that they might not normally ask. Carole Graham, grandmother of Bryson Graham, ‘21, and Aubrey Graham, ‘23, appreciates this emphasis. She also values the memory of baking Christmas cookies with her grandchildren every year.

“They are learning more about the history of their grandparents,” Graham said. “They don’t often ask questions like what was your childhood like. You get a chance to do that here. Each year, we have the family tradition of coming to grandma’s and baking Christmas cookies and decorating them. And then we send a lot of them home and then they can give them to their other grandparents or neighbors.”

Each year, FC welcomes more grandparents to the event and looks forward to the opportunity of expanding the event in future years. They look to continue honoring grandparents for the impact they have on a student’s life and furthering the bond between grandparents and students.

Be sure to read Feather coverage from  2018 Grandparents Day. For more articles, read Spotlight Productions: Preparation begins for Newsies musical and Freshman Rachel Moate excels in varsity volleyball.

Kyle Clem can be reached via Twitter @KyleClem5 and via email.

The slideshow below includes images from the annual 28th Grandparent’s Day.

Gallery • 21 Photos