'Grandfriends' Welcomed at Arnold Elementary

The hallways and classrooms of Arnold Elementary were packed with some special visitors last week, many of whom hadn’t stepped foot in a classroom for many years.

The occasion was the school’s annual “Grandfriends’ Day,” when grandparents or other special guests are allowed to come to school and learn what their special little ones are accomplishing every day.

“Grandfriends Day holds a special place in the hearts of the entire Arnold community,” said Arnold Elementary principal Rosemary Biggart.

“Each year our staff crafts a morning of lessons that celebrate heritage, blending school as it appears in the 21st century with the experiences of those who remember a time without cell phones, Ipods, laptops or reality shows, and for whom ‘cyberspace’ was only a twinkle in a young scientist’s eye,” Biggart said. 

The special guests were greeted by fifth graders and gathered in the cafeteria with special presentations by the school’s new dance team, a group of students playing recorders, and poetry readings by Kindergartners. They were then led to different grade level classrooms to meet teachers and participate in interactive activities with their students.

Barbara Smith of Annapolis enjoys coming to the event each year. “It gives us an idea of what kids are learning in school,” she said.

“Today we had more than 270 wonderful men and women who sat happily in small chairs, clapped for our student performers, and made their young relatives feel proud to ‘show off’ the place where they work hard every day,” Biggart said.