Annual Grandparents and Special Elders Day Celebration

Oakridge Middle School Community Announcement

Date: September 18, 2024
To: All Oakridge Students, Families, and Community Members
Subject: Annual Grandparents and Special Elders Day Celebration

Oakridge Middle School is proud to host our annual Grandparents and Special Elders Day on Friday, October 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This commemorative event is designed to honor the vital contributions of our older generations, cultivate stronger family ties, and foster intergenerational learning within our academic community.

Throughout history, older generations have served as the keepers of family heritage and cultural wisdom. By opening our doors to grandparents, elder mentors, and senior relatives, we provide our middle school students with an invaluable opportunity to connect personal family narratives with the broader historical themes they study in class. Listening to primary source accounts from individuals who experienced landmark decades firsthand enriches our curriculum in ways textbooks alone cannot replicate.

Schedule of Activities:

• 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. | Welcome Breakfast: Complimentary pastries, coffee, and fruit in the school cafeteria.
• 9:20 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Classroom Shadowing & Oral History Workshop: Guests will accompany students to their second- and third-period classes to participate in an interactive oral history interview recorded for our school archives.
• 10:50 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Intergenerational Showcase: Musical performances by the Oakridge Symphonic Band and choral ensembles in the main auditorium.
• 11:50 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Campus Tour & Commemorative Photo: Student-led campus tours concluding with a free professional portrait station in the courtyard.

RSVP and Visitor Guidelines: To ensure adequate seating and security clearance, all participating families must submit an electronic RSVP through the Oakridge Family Portal no later than Friday, September 29. If a student does not have a grandparent available to attend, they are warmly encouraged to invite an aunt, uncle, elder family friend, or community mentor. Designated accessible parking and shuttle assistance from the lower athletic lot will be provided throughout the morning. We look forward to welcoming our honored guests for an inspiring morning of shared wisdom and community fellowship.