Ageless devotion — Grandparents honored at St. Anne's

Linda Davis watched from the bleachers as her husband Milt played football with their grandson, D.J., Thursday afternoon on the school playground at St. Anne’s School.

“It’s wonderful to be around them and feel all the energy,” Linda Davis said about the children. “We look forward to this each year.”

Linda Davis referred to Grandparents’ Day — held each year at St. Anne’s School in conjunction with National Catholic Schools Week. The Davis family were visiting two grandchildren — D.J., fifth grade, and Nathaniel in first grade.

Nearby, another grandparent, Carma Ainsworth, opened her arms to engulf a child, her grandson Gavin, who ran to hug her. Ainsworth said she arrived for the special luncheon and stayed to watch Gavin, play.

“This is my first time here,” she said. “It’s a super opportunity to spend time with your grand kids. It’s great. I love watching him play. Earlier I heard him holler to his friend, ‘Best friend forever.’ It was fun to see. I love seeing the kids interacting with each other.”

It was a scenario played again and again as close to 350 grandparents and children attended the festivities. As one group walked through classrooms or played on the playground, another group sat at Dillon Hall for the special luncheon.

Kathleen Lamb was one of them, sitting at a table with three grandchildren, all talking and laughing. At another table, Ava Lobue, a fourth grade student, sat quietly waiting for her meal to arrive.

“I have three grandparents here,” she said. “I like it because some grandparents can’t come but mine came. After lunch I’m going to show them my classroom. We’ve been doing some art and I’m going to show them.”

Linda McGehee, one of Ava’s grandmothers, has attended every year, this year visiting three grandchildren — Ava, Marie and Jack.

“They wrote these special letters for us,” she said, pointing to a handwritten ‘Thank you’ letter surrounded by numerous pink hearts, her granddaughter made. “It’s a wonderful event. It’s so nice to come and spend some time with our grandchildren.”

Sister Carmen Fernandez, principal at the school, welcomed the group and praised the grandparents.

“You are the backbone of what it is to support, and be a part of, public education,” she said.

“We know you are often entrusted to take care of these little angels. Parents make sacrifices too but you, grandparents, go further. This is a day all of the students have been looking forward to.”

The annual event is a tradition dating back to at least 1996, Sister Carmen said. Each year has a different theme, she said, with 2013 being all about ‘Making right choices.’

“This is mainly a special day for our loved ones who contribute so much to education,” Sister Carmen said.

St. Anne’s has observed National Catholic Schools Week all week, said parent Richard Onsurez, beginning with a special Mass on Sunday where children participated in scripture reading, altar serving, singing and a solemn procession of the “Right to Life” banner, woven by the late Sister Patrick Malani.

The week has been filled with fun days, from favorite-hat and crazy-hairdo days to serious observations — Make Good Moral Choices, Grandparents and Choose Life days.

Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1045. Follow her on Twitter @Avila_recorder.