Grandparents and Special Friends Head Back to Class

 

The occasion was the annual celebration of Middle School Grandparents and Special Friends Day. Guests enjoyed lunch and had the opportunity to hear from Head of Middle School Tasha Elsbach, Chair of the Board of Trustees Edith Chapin ’83 and Head of School Laura Danforth. 

Elsbach took the opportunity to consider the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child,” noting that each of the grandparents and special friends in attendance is an essential partner in their student’s growth and education. Chapin highlighted the excellence of the middle school program, saying: “What you are going to see today is extraordinary.” In her remarks, Danforth touched on a number of topics, including what makes a great educator; the strength of the School’s admission, program and faculty; and asked guests to reflect on their own middle school years. The program ended with a light-hearted contest, with prizes for the guest who traveled farthest (Germany) and the guest with the most grandchildren (18).

The special guests joined their students for a sampling of classes, such as art, humanities, science and drama. Anne FitzMaurice GP’26, ’26, attended music and English classes and described the experience as “wonderful.” “I enjoyed meeting the teachers, seeing how they handled the classes, and I enjoyed the students in the classroom,” she added.