There were over 150 visitors to Rhema for their annual Grandparents Day.
Grandparents go back to school
Monday April 16, 2007 Jennifer Higgs
Rhema Christian School welcomed some older students April 13 for its annual Grandparents Day.
Students were encouraged to invite their grandparents, senior friends or aunts and uncles to participate in events at the school.
When they arrived, visitors were free to tour the school and enjoy activities in the classrooms. There was an open house atmosphere as grandparents took part in lessons with their grandchildren.
The socials group hosted a brunch and the visitors found seats to await a school performance in the gym.
The students showed their creative skills through music, art and drama in their performance I Will Sing the Wondrous Story.
The kindergarten students participate in The Lord's My Shepherd during the Grandparent's Day performance.
"We want to celebrate the transitions in music," says principal Ray Hendriks. "We celebrate the wonderful story of our Lord and Saviour through the gift of song."
From stories about David the psalmist to second century monks and modern hymns, the performance included traditional and modern music.
Donna Bell attended with her husband, Bob. They have three grandchildren at Rhema. Donna says she enjoyed watching the kids in their classrooms and going to the performance.
"It’s a good school for them," she says, "it makes you feel awful proud of your grandchildren."
"We’ve been coming for awhile," says John Longo, who has grandchildren at the school. "It was all nice, the music part was really wonderful."
Grade 5 teacher and music director Gwyneth Zylstra co-ordinated the performance. All the staff contributed to the event, in the areas of set direction, costumes, lighting, and choreography.
"Each teacher took a big part in it and then made it work. It’s the teamwork that makes it work," says Rena Ridley, office administrator.
"It was a great day and it’s a wonderful way to connect. Some of our grandparents support the kids through their tuition," says Ridley. "This is a great way for them to connect with those kids in a real way."
