Cambridge Middle School student Daniel Vivian snaps a photo with his grandmother Marion.
At 1.10pm on Friday 21, Daniel Vivian leads his grandmother Marion Vivian through his classroom to a refreshments table, where tea, coffee, Milo and cartons of tropical punch are arranged beside a vase of pink and white flowers.
It’s Grandparents’ Day at Cambridge Middle School and room 23 has worked hard to create a welcoming atmosphere.
At the front of the classroom, more tables offer an array of treats including meringues, sausage rolls and home baked cupcakes with white frosting and pink and orange sprinkles.
Standing nearby, Luci Rippey holds a red cardboard photo frame decorated with flowers and paper leaves. Her grandparents couldn’t make it today so she’s the roving photographer.
Daniel’s Nannan, Marion, is a grandparents’ day veteran.
“I have 11 grandchildren and I think I’ve been to all of them,” she said.
“My grandchildren are getting older now, so this is probably the last one I’m going to have. It’s sad.”
A part-time teacher at Moanataiari School in Thames, she said it was lovely to be able to visit Daniel’s classroom and meet his teacher for the first time.
“I love seeing the children’s work, their school environment,” she said. “This is a beautiful room; very well set up and very conducive to learning.”
She was amazed by how much Daniel has grown at intermediate, not only in height.
“Academically I think he’s done very well,” she said. “He’s learnt a lot and he’s also got involved in sport.”
Bob Pritchard hadn’t been to a grandparents’ day since his grandchildren were at kindergarten and travelled from Papamoa especially to see his granddaughter Rosa Pickering and grandson Lucas Williams.
He watched dance and singing performances in Rosa’s classroom and ate “lots of sweet stuff”.
“I’d recommend it yeah, thoroughly recommend it,” he said. “The food was good!
Room 23 teacher Katie Scherer enjoyed meeting grandparents and watching her students show them around.
“This is probably the last time the year 8s are ever going to do it; they don’t normally get invited into secondary school,” she said.
“And I really like them having a photo with their grandparents because it is a really memorable moment and some of them might not have many photos.”
She said grandparents loved the day.
“They’re very appreciative of the time to come into the classroom.”
Principal Daryl Gibbs estimated more than 400 grandparents attended.
