Grandparents Celebrated at Redwood Christian Schools
On Friday, October 14, more than 250 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 Seattle, Washington, and Las Vegas, Nevada, but the grandparents traveled the furthest were Scott and Karen Hagan, grandparents to Elias (1st) and Gemma (K), who traveled from Minneapolis, Minnesota! There were grandparents and great grandparents present who had more than fifteen grandchildren and great grandchildren! Billy and Annette Sanders from Hayward, whose grandchildren, Madison (5th) and Mireya (2nd) had the most grandchildren and great grandchildren with eighteen with sixteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren!
Miss Megan Sinisi, RCE Principal since 2021-22, was very excited: “Due to Covid, this is our first Grandparents Day since 2019, and our students were so eager to be able to perform for their Grandparents and take them to their classrooms to share what they are learning in class. The love and affection within the families are such a blessing to see. We are excited to have this become an annual event again! I am so proud of our students!”
One of the purposes 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 the students, their grandchildren.
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” accompanied by Miss Moog on her ukelele, followed by Mrs. Cheryl Bicker’s and Mrs. Monica Hubbard’s/Mrs. Heather Miller’s Kindergarten classes shared their handbell talents performing “What a Mighty God We Serve” and “God is So Good.” Royal Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Beverly Mayne, sang “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Hope Has a Name,” followed by Miss Catherine Schoppet and Miss Katelyn Wolfe’s Second Grade classes singing “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and Dr. Lisa Francis’s and Mrs. Mebrat Hill’s Fourth Grade classes reciting the poem “Grandparents” and singing “Happy Grandparents Day.” Mrs. Victoria Langseth’s and Miss Michelle Pleitez’s First Grade classes recited the poem “Grandparents Day,” followed by 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. The final student presentation was by Mrs. Amy Neal’s and Miss Jessie Pangelina’s Fifth Grade classes reciting the “Preamble to the Constitution” and singing “President’s Song.” Superintendent Al Hearne made closing comments 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) were 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, 19 and 18, and three grandsons, 17, and 15 and 15. 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!
