Grandparents were invited to the 22nd annual Grandparents Day, Sept. 13. Students invited their grandparents to join them for a portion of the day to follow them into classes and sit with them at lunch. This years Grandparents Day had a unique change due to all kindergarten through 12th graders on the same campus.

Principal Todd Bennett is very enthusiastic about finally having a shared campus for Grandparents Day.

“Today we’re preparing for the home football game and Grandparents Day,” Bennett said. ” We have a great added thing this year, it is having everybody on the same campus. Its awesome that everyone is on the campus plus it gives the grandparents an opportunity to see more of what their kids are doing. They don’t have to choose which campus to go to from one to another if they have more than one grandkid at FC, its great.”

Grandparents arrived on campus at 9:50 a.m. in front of building 5, the elementary building. Grandparents were given a paper of their grandchild’s schedule of the day so they could sit in their third and fourth period class with them.

Student leadership worked along side faculty to make the day run more smoothly. The students were given positions to be placed at as grandparents started arriving. Some of the roles were helping grandparents find rooms, opening the elevator and grabbing chairs for classrooms that needed extra. Timothy Nyberg, ’16, shares his experience of the day and his positive regard for Grandparents Day.

“First I helped all the grandparents find where they needed to go and then I also helped serve lunch,” Nyberg said. “It’s always fun to see everyones grandparents and they are always really sweet. I think the day went pretty well. There were so many grandparents so that was kind of a lot; it was a little overwhelming, but all together a pretty fun day.”

Bennett believes the day provides the school with a chance for the community to see the great things teachers do. Kids and grandparents are able to share part of the day together and to boast about the things they are learning in their classes.

“My favorite part about Grandparents Day is seeing all the kids and their grandparents together in the class rooms,” Bennett said. “Kids are very proud of their grandparents and grandparents are always very proud of their kids, so it’s fun to see the looks on their faces when they’re all together. The day is definitely a positive for the school.”

At the end of the grandparents visit, along with their students, they were treated with a lasagna lunch. Faculty took time to prepare food for all guests and students. Along with the school providing lunch, art and home economics teacher (home ec.), Sharon Scharf had all her home ec. classes bake cookies to go alongside the lunch. Bennett appreciates all the hard work the students and faculty put in, to make the day a special one.

“Mrs. Pierce and Mrs. Siebert work really hard to prepare for this day,” Bennett said. “There’s a lot that goes on because we’re feeding about 350 grandparents plus all the students, its a really busy day. We receive help from the custodial staff from Peoples Church. They work with us getting ready for the day. Also, cookies are provided by Mrs. Scharf’s home ec. classes which are great.”

Some grandparents have attended the event for every year their student has been at FC. Sophomore Bailey Brogan’s grandparents have participated in the annual event every year for Brogan and his brother. Brogan enjoys the event and finds the free lunch a nice touch to the day.

“My grandparents have come for many years,” Brogan said. “I have a younger brother so they switch between the two of us for the two periods they are here. I think Grandparents Day is a great event that the school puts on. I especially like having the free lunch that the school provides, it’s a great time to spend with my grandparents.”

Anna Dadian, grandmother of junior Madison Sieb was excited to see the classroom dynamics. Dadian was delighted in seeing students in a Christ-centered environment.

“Well I’m going into a teachers aid class, which isn’t that exciting,” Dadian said. “But I’m going into her algebra II class and I’m excited to see how Mr. {David} Lee works with the students. I’ve been to three or four Grandparents’ Day. It’s fun to see students in a school that honors Christ; that’s exciting for me.”

Amanda Menes, ’14, looks forward to Grandparents Day because of the tradition it has created between her and her grandparents.

“My grandparents have come to Grandparents Day every year since I started coming to FC in seventh grade,” Menes said. “Now it’s just a tradition for them to come and I’m glad they could make it for my last year. I love being able to show my grandparents what my school day is like. They get to experience what my everyday life is like.”

Many of the grandparents take pride in what their grandkids do at school. Nick Tavagliole, grandparent to sophomore Maddie Luginbill, tells of his love for Grandparents Day and his heart for his grandkids.

“Everything, everything is my favorite,” Tavagliole said. “My grandchildren are everything to me and my great grandchildren are more than great. To me, being as old as I am: 82, it’s just an enjoyment that God has given me the chance to be with them. They’re such bubbly children that there’s not anything about it that I don’t like. They are involved in athletics and cheering; it’s just all those good things that they do. It’s just gratifying to me being able to see what they do.”

Editor’s Note: Check back later for added video.

For more information on last years Grandparent’s Day see, Oct. 22, 2012, article, Grandparents share a day with students, tour school.

This author can be reached via Twitter: @han_avila. Follow The Feather via Twitter: @thefeather