Grandparents in Family Life

“Cherish your human connections – your relationships with friends and family.”

                                                                                                                                          -Barbara Bush

Today the AC students are presenting their World’s Fair. They have researched, studied and built machines of the past, present, and future that have been or will be a significant contribution to the advancement of society.  The concept of the world’s fair stemmed from a tradition of national exhibitions that first took place in France and Britain. World Fairs emerged from the industrial revolution as an international platform for invention, innovation, achievements in manufacturing, trade, science, and technology.

As much as these events fostered a modern society, the transformation from an agrarian to an industrial society significantly impacted the traditional family structure that for centuries had included the elders as a principal part of the nuclear family. Grandparents and the elders of society were the guardians of tradition, knowledge, and history. Industrial and economic progress required a larger workforce with people becoming more mobile, moving away from family to urban centers that offered professional and educational opportunities. Over a long period of time, the cohesive family unit became more diluted, spread out and the elders less accessible, limiting their valuable contributions to the family unit.

This weekend, beginning with Friday’s Jog-a-Thon, we are honored to host Grandparent Weekend, to celebrate the elders in our community. Communication and respect are key aspects of the grandparent relationship. Our elders give us awareness of context and connection. Grandparents teach, model and bring generational perspective to our children and family. The love and support received from elders is unique and valuable to growing children.

We are very fortunate to have so many grandparents who either live close by or travel to this event each year taking an active interest in their grandchildren and their school community.

Join me in welcoming our Grandparents to our school community and congratulating the AC and their dedicated effort to their World’s Fair presentation!