A 'Grand' Affair

Highland Lakes Elementary's PTA invites grandparents and senior volunteers to enjoy the companionship of students while dining on a home-cooked meal served in the school's cafeteria.

By KRISTINE MILLEN

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 15, 2000

PALM HARBOR -- Waiting tables is hard work. Ten-year-old Melody Santiago knows.

As a fifth-grader, Melody was given the responsibility to serve baked chicken and tuna croissants to grandparents attending the Bears, Hugs & Kisses appreciation lunch at Highland Lake Elementary on Thursday.

"I only lost one person," said Melody, who wore a white cotton dress handmade by her aunt for the special occasion. "I took their order, came back with their food and they weren't there. I did find them, though, with a little help."

For the last four years, Highland Lakes PTA has invited grandparents and senior volunteers to enjoy the companionship of students over a home-cooked meal the children serve in the cafeteria.

"Most grandparents never step into a school, and they don't realize what it's like because they haven't been in one for years," said Fadia Holzmacher, who helped coordinate the affair. "We want them to know it can be a fun and great experience."

The event has been so successful that this year's attendance exceeded 400 people, nearly double from when it started in 1997. For a school with more than 600 students, that's not bad, said assistant principal Larry Slyck.

"I am amazed at how many grandparents live in this area and are willing to show their support," said Slyck. "The idea of building community is exciting but when you hear a kid say, "This is my grandfather' to a friend, there's a whole lot of pride there."

It's not easy pulling off the school's largest family event, Holzmacher said. But because everyone works together to make it happen, this year's lunch was the smoothest-running one yet.

The Valentine-theme decorations were compliments of students who created 3-foot-tall bears adorned with student handprints, signatures and love notes to grandparents.

Grandpa Len Grasseo, who came all the way from Atlanta to be with his two granddaughters, donned a brown bear suit and doled out hugs.

Candy-stuffed party favors were provided by 11 moms who also supervised the fifth-grade servers and greeted grandparents. School secretaries were recruited to dole out food alongside cafeteria workers who were stretched to the maximum after putting out an extra 443 dinners.

"It takes a lot of preparation and a lot of work, but it's all worth it to see them enjoying a meal with their grandchildren," said food services manager Sharon Waites.

Some children, like kindergartener Sarabeth Lewis and her third-grade sister Stephanie, were lucky enough to have both sets of grandparents to dine with. Their paternal grandma Peggy Lewis from Palm Harbor, and maternal grandparents Nancy and Bill Moore from Clearwater, have attended every Grandparent Appreciation Luncheon.

"A lot of times grandparents are left on the back burner but the respect and thoughtfulness this school gives us is great," Lewis said. "It's really special."

Some students had no grandparents present, but about 20 senior volunteers, most from the retirement community which surrounds the school, became surrogate grandparents for the day.

"I was really thinking of the children who were going to be all alone," said Tarpon Springs winter resident Ted Gamble, who also spends three days each week mentoring and tutoring Highland Lakes pupils. "They are actually very independent. They are making me feel special."

Gamble, 72, isn't the only one who felt special. For three years, brothers Chris and Scott Moran have been disappointed that neither set of their grandparents who live in New York could make it, so their parents, Chris and Sandy Moran, took matters into their own hands.

Gray wigs, a cane, a cigar, some funky clothes and an orange suitcase-size purse transformed the couple into pseudo-grandparents who were thrilled to spend some quality time with their "grandsons."

"We've got to have something to send our kids to therapy for," joked Mrs. Moran. "I think he (Scott) was embarrassed, but I passed out candy to all of their friends in hopes they wouldn't get ribbed later."

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