Grandparents of students at École St.-Jean Baptiste went to school to see their grandchildren last Friday.
“Grandparents Day” was held for the second consecutive year at the French-language Catholic elementary school in Amherstburg with a large crowd of grandparents being led into the school and then directed to their grandchildren’s classrooms.
From there, they created crafts together and enjoyed pizza and healthy snacks with one another.
“They are doing activities with them,” said principal Diana Bala.
Bala said the school’s parent advisory council was a big help. She added it was a way to connect the families with one another.
“It’s a love day,” said Bala. “It is to show love.”
Grade 8 teacher Julie Laudenbach said the activity being done by her students as well as Grade 7 students was to simulate a giant quilt that would have been created in the Underground Railroad period. She said there were secret messages sent via designs in quilts with that being the theme of the exercise with the grandparents and students last Friday.
Using construction paper instead of fabric, the families created designs showing what they love to do and things they like with all of them being joined once they were completed.
“Each class is doing an activity,” said Bala, noting some were for Black History Month while others were for Family Day or Valentine’s Day.
Bala noted the long line of grandparents that came in, as it took 10-15 to instruct which classroom their grandchildren were in. She pointed out it was popular last year and people wanted the event to return.
“The feedback we got from parents and grandparents was to keep the tradition going,” said Bala.
Bringing the family bond into the school was important, she added, as “there is so much to learn from grandparents.”
Laura Gauthier, president of the parent advisory council, said it is a big event within the school.
“The grandparents look forward to it every year,” she said.
It brings happiness to the school to see the grandparents and grandchildren doing crafts together, she added.
Gauthier credited the volunteers on the parent advisory council for helping out with the organization of “Grandparents Day.”
“There’s so much love. There is hugging, smiles and laughing,” she said. “It’s definitely one of the highlights of our year.”
“Grandparents Day” observed at École St.-Jean Baptiste
By Ron Giofu
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