Published: October 02, 2009 08:42 pm      

Wanted: Grandparents

Pioneer Elementary celebrates Grandparents Day.

Clad in cowboy boots and hats, students at Pioneer Elementary School celebrated the school’s annual Grandparents Day with a western hoedown.

Students from first, third and fifth grade performed line dances to popular country-Western tunes for their grandparents to kick off the day’s festivities.

Denny Ide, the school’s principal, described the day as a long-time tradition for Pioneer Elementary School.

“It’s always good to get the grandparents involved,” Ide said. “The feedback every year is so positive. They really enjoy this day.”

The school hosts the day for first, third and fifth grade each year, so that every year a new group of grandparents gets to come.

Ide said he believes Pioneer offers more activities for the students and grandparents than most other schools’ grandparents days.

“We make it into a big deal,” he said. “Grandparents are important people in these kids’ lives.”

Activities for the families included bingo, karaoke, picture stations, a book fair and a chicken and noodle lunch. There was also a drawing for mums.

Kindergartners celebrate with their grandparents later in the day in a separate kindergarten tea, including performances, cookies and punch.

“I love it,” said grandmother Vickie Peattie of Royal Center. “I love this school and the whole school system.”

Peattie, who dressed for the festivities in a cowboy hat, is the grandmother of Cami Stewart who is in the third grade at Pioneer. Peattie said she had attended the annual event on several occasions for an older granddaughter and for Cami.

Edna Birnell, grandmother of first-grader Brian Stough, also spoke highly of the event.

“I think it’s a neat idea to know what the kids are doing, and to meet the other kids in my grandson’s class,” Birnell said.

Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at (574) 732-5148 or jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com.