Grandparents Day a massive success

Rows of smiling grandmothers and grandfathers faced a congregation of

St. Finbar School students Friday who raised their hands to them in a

prayer of blessing during Mass that celebrated Grandparents Day.

Grandparents of St. Finbar students were invited to attend an

all-school Mass. They were treated to a special lunch and had the

chance to visit their grandchildren’s classrooms and teachers.

“I want to show you everything!” 5-year-old Hunter Goffin told her

grandmother Gerry Goffin, who took a day off work to attend the

celebration.

“I loved it,” said Goffin. “The mass was wonderful, the children’s

participation added to its joyfulness. The whole idea of having a

grandparents day is wonderful and rewarding, hopefully for the

children as well.”

Linda Petzoldt, a lab coordinator at the school who attended the

event with her grandson said students enjoy the event because it

reminds them of how much their grandparents care about them.

“The children appreciate the fact that the grandparents have spent

the time to come to be there with them,” she said.

Grandparents enjoyed being able to spend the time with their

grandchildren.

“I really like to be here,” said Greg Amado, 85. “It’s a time when

grandchildren and grandparents can come together and the grandparents

can see the classrooms.”

Amado’s granddaughter, Genna Amado, likewise enjoyed the chance to

spend extra time with her grandfather.

“I get to spend a lot of time with grandpa,” said Genna, 10. “I

feel very good because he’s always fun and he’s nice to me.”

The event was planned and organized by Student Council Moderators

Karen Galindo and Claudia Lapos, who spent hours preparing the lunch

along with parents and other staff.

“It’s a way for them to see what’s going on,” Galindo said of the

grandparents who often donate money to the school’s classrooms and

library. “They get to see and participate in what the grandkids are

doing.”

Jody Junor, 66, was glad to have the chance to see what see her

grandson Austin’s classroom and spend the extra time with him.

“It’s really nice to share mass with him and share lunch with

him,” Junor said. “I get to be with him all by myself and go see his

classroom and see what he’s doing.”

Galindo also said the event gives the school and it’s students the

chance to show grandparents how much their investments of time and

money are appreciated.

“It’s kind of nice to be able to pay back the grandparents a

little,” she said.