Sharing Experiences and Memories: Grandparents and Special Friends Day

“Wouldn’t it be fun to go to school again?” one grandparent asked her tablemate in Andrea L’Tainen’s third grade classroom. 

The children and their Grandparents and Special Friends Day visitors had just heard a mini-lesson about story arcs and structure, after which the students shared the personal narratives they’d written earlier this month.

Many of the handwritten stories were cut apart and taped back together with added sections of detail and dialogue—a technique L’Tainen calls “Frankenstein-ing”—and the grandparents and other guests read through them with pride.

This annual day is a cherished tradition at Germantown Friends School; this year, third, fourth, and fifth grades welcomed guests. Over 200 special guests participated this year, traveling from as far away as the United Kingdom, Florida, Ohio, and Tennessee!

The morning opened with breakfast in the Dining Hall and a welcome reception with remarks from Head of School Dana Weeks and Nina Wilkes P’02 GP’34 ’37.

After a rousing musical performance by the fifth grade, Director of Lower School Joe Stanzione outlined the schedule and sent the classes on their way. 

All of the classes had activities prepared for the students and their guests to do together. A “then and now” worksheet, comparing toys, music, fashion, and other trends from different decades was a popular one.

In Serita Lachesis’ fifth-grade class, she pulled up videos on YouTube to share songs and toys that the grandparents and other guests remembered. The group in Teodora Nedialkova’s fifth-grade class concluded their activity with “words of wisdom” from both adults and children, such as:

“The friends you make at GFS will be some of the greatest treasures of your life.”
“Enjoy the age you are and don't grow up too fast."
"Spend a lot of time outside with real people."
“Be curious and non-judgmental."

Later in the morning, the teachers, students, and their guests met back in the Meetinghouse for Meeting for Worship, which the students concluded by singing “Go in Peace.” Students returned to their regular schedule after goodbye hugs with their guests, and the day closed with remarks from Weeks and David Feldman, Clerk of the GFS School Committee. 

“Every day, we receive the gift of your grandchildren and special friends,” Weeks said. “And they receive the gift of sitting in silence each week, which allows your mind to be free and, over time, helps students learn how to find their voice and share messages with their community.”

The day served as a reminder of the pride students take in their work and the deep-rooted relationships they build with their teachers. For the grandparents and special friends, seeing their students “in action” provided a direct lens into their daily lives.

Ultimately, the event was a bridge between generations. It allowed students to see their school through the eyes of their guests, while the visitors left with an up-close view of the joyful learning that happens daily on the GFS campus.