Students at Everest Academy are Grateful for Grandparents and their Wisdom

—Submitted by Everest Academy

Gratitude goes a long way as does the wisdom and love of a grandparent. On Tuesday, Nov. 22, the students of Everest Academy dedicated their day to their grandparents with gratitude and love. Over 600 guests attended this special morning, held every year at Everest Academy before Thanksgiving. Aside from teaching the importance of being grateful and expressing that gratitude to others, Grandparent’s Day offers the students a fun way to thank their grandparents for the role they have played in their development and education. Many students arrived with their grandparents, taking them by the hand into the gymnasium where they sat together during the celebration of Mass. After Mass, Grandparents were treated to some light refreshments and made visits to the students’ classrooms where they were presented with handmade gifts or personal letters lovingly made by their grandchildren. The morning continued back in the gymnasium where the students delighted them again, this time with music and poetry, as each grade level presented a song from the 1960’s or 1970’s, along with poetry interludes by the Everest Academy Annual Poetry Contest winners. Highlights of the presentation were the eighth grade boys singing background in a swinging rendition of the Beatles, “Twist and Shout” and two unique performances of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Wreck of the Hesperus,” presented by first place winners for their class, Kate Beecher (7th grade) and Sophia Colarelli (8th grade). The rhythm of the music and the beauty of the poetry was enjoyed by all.

Assistant Chaplain at Everest Academy, Father Thomas Vendetti, LC spoke with the grandparents and crowd during the morning explaining, “The greatest legacy we can leave is in our children and grandchildren; they are all we have in this world that will remain in eternity. As grandparents, you are called to leave them the heritage of wisdom. Here at Everest we see ourselves as partners in this process, an extension of the home, where the same values you hold in high esteem are reinforced. Your presence here today is a testimony to the fact that you are interested in transmitting these values.”

On Grandparents Day the spirit of family was truly felt at Everest Academy. It showed itself in the smiles of the children and in the eyes of their special guests. The students of Everest Academy let their grandparents know how important they are in their young lives and how grateful they will always be to them.