Some 50ish years ago, Grandpa Schulte taught me how to throw a baseball and would take me to Tiger games. The seats were as lousy as the Tigers, and I never became Aurelio Rodriguez. Grandpa O’Connell let me drive his rusty red tractor around the farm and taught me how to play poker (to my mother’s chagrin). There is not one living plant in my house, and I gave up thinking I would profit from cards long ago.
Grandparents have a unique ability to provide love, support, and guidance that is different from that of parents. They have the bandwidth to validate children’s feelings and offer patience and understanding when things get tough. They savor every moment they have with children, knowing that their time together is limited.
Which brings me to Grandfriends’ Day. A core value of Saklan is the power of experiential learning. Today our grandfriends enjoyed a field experience into our students’ lives. They had their hand taken and were led into a world of education different from what they knew as a student. They engaged in morning meeting activities that emphasized connection and cross-generational understanding. They gained insight into a child’s life through The Saklan Art Show. They held conversations about project and field work that helped grandfriends understand what makes Saklan exceptional.
But most importantly, Grandfriends’ Day gave someone in their lives an opportunity to share what is important to them. They were able to learn from, validate, and bond more deeply with a special person in their life. And that, at the end of the day, is what matters most.
To those that were able to share your grandfriends with us today, thank you. It was a pleasure to witness the cross-generational joy and light being spread around our campus.
With gratitude,
David
#HeadsCorner #SaklanGrandfriendsDay
FRIDAY BLOG 
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