Grandparents Celebrated at Redwood Christian Schools
Zack with older sister Sammie and Grandma Colleen Frazier. Zack is one of her twenty-two grandchildren.
On Friday, October 14, more than 300 grandparents and great-grandparents were celebrated by the students at Redwood Christian Elementary (RCE) Campus in a chapel assembly where songs, handbells and poems were performed for their grandparents and great-grandparents. Grandparents have been celebrated annually at RCE for more than 30 years. Many of our honored guests traveled from throughout the state to be present and we had grandparents who traveled from around the country to be with their grandchildren and great grandchildren. There were grandparents and great grandparents present who had more than fifteen grandchildren and great grandchildren! Fourth grader Zack Arias’ grandmother, Mrs. Colleen Frazier, who lives in Fremont, has six kids, twenty-two grand kids (ranging in age from thirty to three years old) as well as three great-grandchildren with another “on the way.”
Principal Megan Sinisi stated “The attention, interaction and unconditional love from grandparents (and parents, of course) helps a young child feel safe and secure. Most important, they have a God-given task to pass on truth and wisdom. Deuteronomy 4:9 says, ‘Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children.’ The RCE students did a fantastic job honoring those important people in their lives.”
One of the goals of the event is to be sure that Grandparents know how much they are loved and appreciated, and how much they are valued for their participation in the lives of their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Aunts, uncles and special friends filled in for grandparents unable to attend.
The chapel assembly opened with Principal Sinisi welcoming everyone, especially Grandparents and Great Grandparents. The program for the day featured all students: Miss Ashley Moog’s TK Class sang “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” followed by Mrs. Heather Mitchell’s and Mrs. Monica Hubbard’s/Mrs. Heather Miller’s Kindergarten classes shared their handbell talents performing “Deep and Wide” and “God is So Good.” Band 2 (second year students) played “America the Beautiful” under the direction of Azeem Ward and his Strings 2 class played “Amazing Grace.” Mrs. Amy Hickman’s and Miss Michelle Pleitez’s First Grade classes recited the poem “Grandparents Day,” followed by Dr. Lisa Francis’s and Mrs. Jenni Reeves’s Fourth Grade classes reciting the poem “Grandparents” and singing “Happy Grandparents Day,” followed by Miss Catherine Schoppet and Miss Katelyn Wolfe’s Second Grade classes singing “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and Mrs. Lynn Conley’s and Mrs. Laura Vanegas’s Third Graders singing “Grandparents Are Special” written and accompanied by Mrs. Mayne on the piano and recited “Grandparents Poem” by former staff member Sandy Trieselmann. Mrs. Deserae Prescott’s and Miss Catherine Schoppet’s Fifth Grade classes singing “It Is Well.” Royal Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Beverly Mayne, sang “Singing in the Rain” and “It Is Well.”
RCS Superintendent Dr. Al Hearne closed the celebration of Grandparents Day encouraging the audience to stay active in their grandchildren lives and keep encouraging them and prayer, inviting the Grandparents back to their grandchildren’s classrooms to share what is happening in the classrooms.
Dr. Al Hearne, Superintendent, stated “All of the grandchildren attending RCS are so valuable to all of us here today. They are the future. God has created each child individually as He is not a Cookie-Cutter Creator (just ask any Grandparent with more than two grandchildren!). He also has a wonderful plan for the life of each of these precious children. We have so much for which to be thankful today as we watch and learn from His Kids (our Grandchildren).”
Grandparents (and Great Grandparents) are encouraged to sit down and share their life stories with their grandchildren and consider filming their story, making the story extra special as it will last for generations to come. Grandparents were also encouraged to include how and when they surrendered their lives to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Superintendent Emeritus Bruce D. Johnson celebrated being a Grandparent, stating “It is really a privilege to be a Grandparent. We have five Grandchildren: two granddaughters, 21 and 20, and three grandsons, 19, and 16 and 16. All bring their Grandma and me such great joy, and I know yours bring you great joy, too. I’ll never forget a quote my former pastor, Chris Lyons, told me something when our first Grandchild was born that was so true: ‘Had we known grandchildren were this much fun, we would have had them first!’ Something to think about!”
It was a great day for all who attended!
