Grandparents Visit Avalon School, Share Memories

AVALON –– They walked 10 miles to school, every day, in the rain, snow and sleet, uphill, both ways. Well, not exactly, but third grade students at Avalon Elementary School heard their grandparents share favorite memories of third grade for “Bring Your Grandparents to School Day,” Friday, Sept. 26 when they brought them to class for the morning.
Teacher Mary Beth Ross has taught third grade at Avalon Elementary School for 12 years, and said she is blessed and lucky because “third grade is a hopping place.”
Students Grace McBride and Luke Orlando “adopted” Ross’ mother, Rose Mary Boyle, for the day since their grandparents were unable to visit. Boyle said it was “a real treat.”
Students interviewed their grandparents about their favorite subjects, sports, types of schools and class size.
Some grandparents went to private schools in the city while others said they lived on a farm and walked home for lunch.
Others agreed a pickle and a pretzel for a nickel was their lunch of choice from the suburban neighborhood corner store.
As grandparents introduced themselves and spoke about their own third grade experiences, two grandparents, Kathleen Lowe and Linda McIlwain, discovered they went to school together years ago at St. Nicolas of Tolentine in Philadelphia.
Grandparents traveled from near and far, even out of state, to be a part of the day.
Donna Rogers traveled from West Goshen Township in Chester County, Pa. to see Christopher, Betty and Charles Green came from Pittman to see their granddaughter Merrick Adams and Thomas and Virginia Ohntrup of Swainton came to see young Taylor.
Fond memories of inkwells inside desks, learning to tell time and write in cursive are a few stories grandparents shared but, in the end, generations agreed some things haven’t changed.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck @cmcherald.com.