Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Gallery (click any photo to view the gallery)

Maxwell Elementary invited grandparents to join the children for lunch one day this week. The first-time effort was a success, with more than 200 reservations.

In honor of Grandparents Day, Maxwell Spanish Immersion Magnet School hosted several dozen special guests for lunch this week.

“This is for and about them,” PSA Michelle Grant explained as kindergarteners’ relatives poured into the cafeteria.

The children beamed as they led their guests through the food line and settled in for a short visit. So did the adults.

“I love to see what’s going on in my grandchildren’s schools,” said Sarah Rothwell, who also has one in second grade at Maxwell and another in kindergarten at Julius Marks Elementary.

Rothwell regularly volunteers in their classrooms and likes to get to know their teachers, too.

Across the room, Diana Simpson and husband Byron sat next to their granddaughter, whom they see a lot more of now that they’re back in their native Kentucky.

“We’ve been able to enjoy so much more of their lives,” said Simpson, who also has a grandson in second grade at Maxwell.

The Simpsons, who lived in Florida for 25 years before moving home last fall, “wouldn’t miss this for the world,” she said.

The idea to invite grandparents for lunch Wednesday and Thursday originated with the Food Service staff, led by new cafeteria manager Mandi Allen.

“This is my first year in the school, and we’ve talked about doing some themes,” said Allen, who previously worked at Olive Garden.

“We had over 200 reservations, so I’d call that a hit!”

Did you know?

National Grandparents Day originated with Marian McQuade, a homemaker in Fayette County, West Virginia. Her primary motivation was to champion the cause of lonely nursing home residents. She also hoped to persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage their grandparents could provide. In 1978, President Carter proclaimed that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day.