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Grandparents and Special Friends Are Honored at the Lower School
May 16, 2005
The day began as grandparents and special friends – often aunts, uncles, and family friends – streamed into the Short Hills campus building. They were greeted by parent volunteers, given a name tag, and directed to the dining room where they were treated to fresh coffee, danish, and fruit in the dining room.
Assistant Headmaster and Lower School Director Ted Corvino welcomed the standing-room-only crowd before sending everyone on their way to the classrooms. Taking a straw poll, he determined that about one third of the grandparents and special friends were attending for the first time, while a few had been attending this event for more that 10 years. Many came from more than 1,000 miles while a few people traveled from Europe and Asia to be with their grandchildren on this day.
The kindergarten students then showed off their musical talents by singing four old favorites, including “High Hopes,” and then it was on to the classrooms to spend the morning discovering just what their young progeny had been learning all year.
KSP offered a theatrical rendition of Horton Hatches an Egg, the Dr. Seuss favorite that talks about good character traits. Ms. Cowan’s fourth grade class taught their special friends sign language, then sang and signed “Love in Any Language” for their guests. Other class’ activities included serenades on mountain dulcimers, watching butterfly cocoons hatch, and Jeopardy-style games about famous women in history.
The day continued in the gym with a display of the work the students have been doing. From Mayan temples made from candy, to personal birth narratives bound in notebooks, to science projects, the students had the opportunity to show off their handiwork and explain the year’s lessons.
The event ended with a concert by the hand bell choir and a demonstration by jump-rope dancers. As the grandparents and special friends gave hugs and kisses, the students found their way back to the classrooms, and the guests were given a Pingry tote bag as they left. The day was aptly summed up by one grandfather who said, “This school is a lot of fun – makes me wish I were 60 years younger!”
© 2005 The Pingry School |
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