Grandparents didn’t mind returning to school one bit—as long as they got to sit near their grandchildren in class. More than 200 grandparents, relatives, and special friends attended First Grade Grandparents Day on Friday, rotating through a full day of learning experiences alongside JA’s young Raiders.
Back to School, With the Best Possible Company
Each first-grade class and its guests visited the Lower School Library. The library rotation began with a devotional that incorporated the Bible verse from Colossians 3:20 that the students have memorized for February: “Children, obey your parents in everything for this pleases the Lord.” First-grade teachers demonstrated Morning Meeting, a daily classroom activity that builds students’ social skills in listening, interacting with, and caring for others. Then, grandparents listened as their grandchild read them a story aloud—an activity that builds confidence and a love of reading in young learners.
A Full Day of Learning, Together
In physical education, students demonstrated their skills by teaching grandparents a game called Bucket Coin Toss, showcasing PE as an original element of JA’s programming that remains essential to the curriculum today. This game focuses on locomotor skills, underhand tossing, and counting. Music class brought joyful energy as first graders demonstrated how they build rhythm and musicality through song and movement. STEM class wowed grandparents with hands-on demonstrations of how science, technology, engineering, and math are taught today—making many wish they could return to school themselves. During Spanish/Bible class, the students impressed their elders with their Spanish vocabulary and Bible knowledge, including the books of the Bible!
Refreshments, Artwork, and Good Conversation
Just as in the early days when founder and principal Loyal Bearss built snack time into the rhythm of the school day, snacks continued to foster a positive atmosphere for learning. During refreshments provided by the JAA, students and grandparents enjoyed conversations about the student artwork adorning the walls of the Performing Arts Center Gallery. Each class’s work was displayed together, with pieces selected by the Lower School art teacher to represent every student.
The Best School Day Has No Exam
What was the main difference between the grandparents’ school day and what their grandchildren experience regularly? No tests were required.
