Published On: October 14th, 2015By Leticia Fehling

Reece Academy Celebrates Grandparents Day

Campus shows its appreciation while building intergenerational opportunities for learning.

A grandmother reads her favorite children’s book to students.

[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]T[/dropcap]here are more grandparents today than ever before. By the year 2030, 1 in every 5 Americans will be over 65 years of age. For the first time in history, people age 65 and older will outnumber children under age five.

This demographic shift creates the potential for rich intergenerational connections.

Grandparents Day is a national holiday in the U.S. that falls each year on the first Sunday after Labor Day. But increasingly, schools are organizing Grandparents Day events at any time during the year. The day is a way to bring together families and build community.

It gives children an opportunity to show their appreciation and love toward their grandparents. The event also makes grandparents feel valued. These events can also be a steppingstone for creating long-term intergenerational programs and connections.

Reece Academy’s theme was “Building Positive Relationships.” Organizers invited grandparents to share their favorite storybook with their grandchildren’s classrooms. They also encouraged them to take part in various campus activities. More than 65 grandparents took part in the weeklong event.

Theresa Craft gushed about how important grandparents are to students’ success.

“This was something for the community,” said Craft. “We celebrated the grandparents’ accomplishments and contributions. Grandparents love watching their grandkids at school. They followed the students to see what happens during a normal school day. Today, many grandparents are helping raise their grandchildren. We want them to know how much we appreciate everything they do for our children.“

Brenda Brown hosted the event. She collaborated with Danielle Stevenson. Brown is the school counselor and Stevenson is a social worker.