By CARL E. FEATHER - Staff Writer - cfeather@starbeacon.com
May 5 was a bittersweet day for Pierpont Elementary students and their grandparents as the school held its last Grandparents’ Day.
The breakfast event has been a tradition at the school for several decades, says Janet Woodard, who has taught first grade at Pierpont 35 years. She said the breakfast was implemented several years before she started, but it has evolved from a simple doughnut-and-coffee affair to a hot breakfast with a program.
The premise is simple, yet significant in recognizing the role grandparents play in a child’s education. Pierpont students invite their grandparents (and great-grandparents) to attend the breakfast, which is held in the school cafeteria. After eating together, students entertain their grandparents on stage with a variety of musical numbers.
“This is the celebration of grandparents and what grandparents have done to support their children in school,” Principal Tim Essig told the group. He thanked the grandparents for attending and for supporting their youngsters in their education.
“Without the support you provide your grandchildren, they cannot learn at the higher level,” he said.
Although the school has only 120 students, the breakfast had to be held on two days to accommodate all of the grandparents. Attendance was 162 on May 4 and 121 on Tuesday.
“It’s wonderful,” said Janice Kumpulainen, who attended with her granddaughters, Jazmine and Celeste Kosik. “The kids love it. They had to spend the night (at her house) so they could get ready.”
Many of the grandparents of these youngsters attended the school decades ago and then watched their children go through the school, as well. Janet Woodard’s parents, Karl and Catherine Marcy, attended the breakfast with their granddaughter, Keirsten Marcy, 6.
They also had the experience of seeing their daughter receive recognition from the Parent Teacher Organization for her 35 years of dedication to Pierpont students. The group honored Woodard at the close of Tuesday’s breakfast.
The Buckeye Local Board of Education voted earlier this year to close Pierpont Elementary at the end of this school year. Students who go into open enrollment at other districts will be bused to Kingsville Elementary. Kingsville’s enrollment is expected to swell to 400.
“There are lots of things we are able to do (at Pierpont) because we’re small,” Woodard says. “I don’t see the (Grandparents’ Day) tradition continuing because of those numbers.”
This was the third year the PTO has sponsored the event and prepared the meal.
Each student paid $1.50 to attend; grandparents paid $3. The adults received a commemorative coffee mug, in addition to their breakfast.
