There’s an important and unique event taking place at the end of this week at LCC; our annual Grandparents’ Day. This is a special occasion and it’s fantastic to see the grandparents of our Junior School children on campus. Both our youngest students and their grandparents get a lot out of connecting together at school. The children cannot wait for their grandparents to visit their classrooms so they can show off their work portfolios, and the grandparents can’t wait to be taken by the hand and proudly shown the work that represents effort, progress, creativity and an enthusiastic primary school fascination with learning. In fact, both research and general practice show that having to show off work, or read aloud to grandma or grandpa, is one of the highest incentives that exists for young children.
This Friday afternoon’s Grandparents’ Day includes a classroom visit, a short tea stop with a welcome from me and our Junior School Director, and of course, a performance by the Junior School Choir—all grandparents have a special love for children’s choirs! This is followed a visit to our annual LCC Book Fair in our Memorial Gym.
It’s actually curious that we don’t continue with Grandparents’ Day in Middle or Senior School. Something seems to happen when students become teenagers. It’s no longer as cool, fun or exciting to host grandparents at school. But maybe we’re making a mistake as a school. There’s nothing “uncool” or boring about grandparents. In fact relationships with grandparents are very important and special. These are people who have seen a lot, their wisdom is valuable, and perhaps most important, they are a few degrees removed from students and parents, so they are often less judgmental. It is easier to explore issues or ideas that maybe children wouldn’t with their parents.
In future years maybe we should also bring grandparents into our Middle and Senior Schools. Regardless, if grandparents are close by and live in Montreal, I suggest our students do themselves a favour and book a special date with them. They should ask a few questions they have never asked before….and tell grandparents something about school or their lives that they never really knew. I guarantee you the conversation would be interesting.
I lost all my own grandparents many years ago. But when I was a child and a teenager, they were very positive influences in my life; we were very close. I particularly remember hearing fantastic stories from my maternal grandfather who fought for Canada in WWI. He survived a gas attack at Ypres in Belgium and the Canadian assault on Vimy Ridge in France. Looking back, I probably took those times a little bit for granted, so I wish I could visit with them again.
My advice to today’s students: don’t take your grandparents for granted, they’re the best teachers alive. They should think about that next time they get together. —Christopher Shannon, Headmaster
To me, my grandparents are some of the most important people in my life. They’re always there and they teach me many things. My grandpa is an economist. He helped me adopt a child from Uganda in Africa. We each donated an amount of money, we wrote letters to the child, and sent small gifts. He told me that there are people in need and we can help them. My grandpa also wrote an article about Venice in the 17th century and had it published. Grandpa is also writing a book about it, but isn’t finished. He taught me many things and is a very interesting person to be with.
My grandma loves to garden. It’s her favorite thing to do. I can ask her what type of flower is what and she’ll know all the names. Sometimes, my mom and I need to call grandma on the telephone to ask if a plant is a weed or not or what plants grow very well in this climate if we can’t find the answer in a book.
My grandparents taught me many things and are unique in their own way.
-Zoe Fargnoli Brown (grade 5)
Zoe,
I am really pleased that you have reflected on the importance of your grandparents and shared some of these experiences here. Grandparents are amazing in their capacity to be teachers and very special friends.
Thank you addressing the fact that , perhaps, we should include Grandparents Day in the middle and senior schools. I have always found it curious that it was strictly for the junior school. Raising a family takes a village and the matriarchs and patriarchs are “key players” in many families. They are “walking, breathing encyclopedias” and their importance to grandchildren , no matter the age, should not be under estimated.