Grandparents accompany students on trip down memory lane to the Butler

By Jon Moffett

AUSTINTOWN — Wanda Wilson was excited about every part of Watson Elementary School’s tribute to grandparents — except for maybe the bus ride.

Kindergarten students at the school had a Christmas event to honor their grandparents. After the trip, the children and their families went on a field trip to the Butler Institute of American Art on a big, yellow, uncomfortable school bus.

“The last time I rode on one of these was at a church function probably about 10 years ago,” Wilson said. “It was certainly memorable.”

Wilson added that she had not missed the experience of riding a bus. But she said she didn’t mind this time.

James Carchedi, principal of Watson, said not much has changed between when grandparents rode those buses as kids and now.

“Many grandparents probably have not been on a school bus for 30, 40 or 50 years,” he said. “Buildings have changed, classrooms have changed and curriculum has changed, but those old school buses have not.”

Before the outing, the five kindergarten classes sang songs for their families as part of a holiday concert. The set list included Christmas songs as well as funny songs and one the students made up themselves. Many of the songs were personalized to grandparents.

Wilson’s granddaughter, Brooke, said her favorite part of the event was wishing everyone — but especially her grandmother — a Merry Christmas.

“If it wasn’t for grandparents in this day and age, I think some of these kids would have a very difficult time,” Carchedi said. “If there are two parents in the household, many times they’re both working, and we see grandparents dropping kids off in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon.”

Carchedi added that about one-third of the school’s students come from single-parent households, and often times, a grandparent is the emergency contact.

“Sometimes I don’t think parents say thank you enough to grandparents,” Carchedi said. “And we want them to know that this is their school as well.”

jmoffett@vindy.com