43
Hilltop students welcome Grandma and Grandpa
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Georgianne Denney (back) reads to her granddaughter Riley Brantley (right) and Megan Nicholson (left) during Grandparents Day at Hilltop Elementary March 25.
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Marissa Landers (center) shows off her artwork to grandparents Connie and Ernie Zuschlag in the hallway during Grandparents Day March 25.
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Kate Kadilak (left) escorted her grandmother, Marie Kadilak, back to her classroom and presented her with a poem during Hilltop's Grandparents Day March 25.
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Kaitlyn Pomponio (front) showed off her school desk to her grandparents, from left, Bob Schmalzried, Lennie Schmalzried, Karen Pomponio and Ed Pomponio. The classroom tour was part of Hilltop's Grandparents Day event.
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.First-grade students at Hilltop Elementary performed a few songs for their grandparents during the school's annual tradition of Grandparents Day March 25. For the finale, the group sang "God Bless America."
By ABBY SLANKER
Smiles and giggles were in the air as the first-grade class at Hilltop Elementary School opened the doors to their grandparents to honor them with the annual tradition of Grandparents Day March 25.
As the students filed into the auditorium, there was plenty of waving and smiles from both grandchildren and grandparents.
Cathy Mowry, principal of Hilltop Elementary, said the children were very excited and have been working hard to prepare for the day.
“What a special day for grandparents to know their grandchild has made this day just for them.”
The first-graders performed a program full of patriotic songs to an estimated 350 grandparents. During the program, the children broke out into small groups to perform songs with movement, including dancing, hand clapping and skipping.
Then a round of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” was sung by both students and grandparents. For the finale, the students sang “God Bless America.”
Tom Scurich, music teacher at Hilltop Elementary, said the songs with movement have educational purposes.
“The first-graders have been working hard all year for this program and have been having fun while learning. Music is a celebration of singing and movement and that works well for first-graders who are so full of energy,” said Scurich.
After the program, the first-graders escorted their grandparents back to their classrooms where the students showed them around the room, introduced them to their teachers and friends and presented them with a gift and a poem.