Oak Mountain Elementary School is celebrating a great success with this year’s Grandparent’s Day, a school-wide event that took place on November 18th. While many of the students had grandparents attend, many others were equally excited to invite a special friend if family members were unable to attend.  Special visitors gathered in the school’s library before making their way to individual classrooms.

“It was wonderful to see so many people in attendance for this event,” said Pat Blank, grandmother of Alyssa and Jack Laccally.  “One of the best parts was to see that no one was on a cell phone. People were visiting and talking with one another…like old school. We just loved it.”

Entire classes were filled with pride as students and teachers shared with their guests recent school projects, learning activities, and academic achievements.

“I am always proud of our school and community, but Grandparent’s Day had me beaming,” said Cammie Eanes a first-grade teacher at OMES. “The smiles and giggles shared within and between families was priceless!”

Grandparents and other guests also enjoyed a special Thanksgiving themed lunch in the school’s cafeteria where decorations were hung, and several tables were covered in festive linens. During lunch, visitors and students also enjoyed a special viewing of family photographs that were collected by teachers and staff specifically for the event.

Some students with grandparents living in distant states chose to share the day with other relatives or a special friend. Nate Agliata, an OMES 3rd grader, invited the grandmother of a close friend of his who attends another local school.

“It was really neat to get to show her my classroom,” said Agliata. “My favorite part was getting to have a special lunch together at school.”

The event drew an even greater number of guests than originally expected. The cafeteria reported serving nearly 1,025 lunches in just under two and a half hours.

“We had plenty of space (for guests) to wait in the library, time in the classroom, delicious food to eat, chairs and tables for visiting during lunch, hugs and kisses after pictures, and great weather! This community is so special, and our parents (and families) make all the difference,” said Debbie Horton, OMES Principal. “I don’t think it could have been more of a success.”