Grandparents’ Day More Popular than Ever

Westminster hosted its third, and most highly attended, Grandparents’ Day on Sept. 30. One hundred fifty four grandparents visited the Hill to spend the day attending classes, eating lunch with their grandchildren, hearing a faculty panel presentation and attending afternoon athletic contests.

For Sheila Comerford, grandmother of Emily Worcester ’11, it was her first time visiting Westminster. She attended Emily’s English and calculus classes and toured the library. “I am so impressed by the facilities,” said Sheila. “I feel like I am at a college. What I love seeing, is the spirit between the kids.”

It was also Anne Warner’s first time on the Hill. “It is wonderful,” she said about spending the day with her grandson, Will Mayer ’13. “I loved going to classes and chamber choir,” she said. “It was really fascinating.”

Headmaster Graham Cole met with the grandparents in the Sejong Lecture Hall of the Armour Academic Center and gave an overview of the start of the school year, the recent admissions’ cycle and the new academic center. “The school year is off to a good start,” he s

aid. “It is so exciting for us to be in this magnificent building.”

His comments were followed by a panel discussion and question and answer session with Head of the Language Department Sara Deveaux, math teacher Tony Griffith, Director of Multicultural Affairs Melinda Wright and Dean of Faculty Dick Adams. The faculty talked about the joys of teaching in the new center, the importance of balance in students’ lives, the privilege of working with students from a range of backgrounds and how the school is all about people. Grandparents, in turn, asked panel members about dealing with homesickness, languages taught by the Language Department, the health center, preparations for swine flu and rules of conduct.

Headmaster Cole ended the discussion by saying, “This such a great day. Our kids love it as do our faculty. I hope, today, you will get to see our motto, Grit and Grace, in action. This is what I hope you will see over the years and will always be a part of Westminster.”