On Friday morning, January 17
th
close to 200 Bais Yaakov grandparents and special friends joined in the inaugural Bais Yaakov Kindergarten Grandparents Day on our Park Heights – Owings Mills campus. Benefitting from other scheduled Bais Yaakov weekend events, those joining us on this memorable day came from as far away as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Michigan, Florida, California, Ontario Canada and Eretz Yisroel.
Despite the frigid outdoor temperatures, the beautiful sunny day and the bright blue nearly cloudless sky, were signs of the cheerful and warm inner feelings of
nachas
to come in the next few hours spent at Bais Yaakov.
At Bais Yaakov we have been working to create events that allow our parents and grandparents an opportunity to peek into the incredibly rich days of learning and growth that our girls are privileged to experience each day in Bais Yaakov. Grandparents Day, like our Rosh Chodesh assemblies with mothers, Preschool Open House and milestone events like the First Grade Siddur Play, Middle School Bas Mitzvah Dinner, High School Exhibit/Production, and others are occasions that allow the generations to come together in meaningful ways.
The event was chaired by our very dedicated Bais Yaakov parents,
Mrs. Aliza Samet
and
Mrs. Sarala Wertenteil
. Their experience, creativity, time and efforts led the way for everyone else involved. We are extremely grateful for their inspiration and guidance.
Due to the large number of honored guests anticipated, off-site park and ride arrangements were made with
Stevenson University
who generously provided space on their Greenspring Campus. From there, warm coach buses brought our visitors to the Bais Yaakov Park Heights campus and later returned them to their cars at the conclusion of the program.
After a gourmet brunch of pastries, soup, yogurts, salads, fruit kabobs and coffee, our visitors were called by their granddaughter’s class assignments. Watching the crowds make their way down the Preschool hallway to the Kindergarten classes was a joyous sight to behold.
Our Kindergarten
moros
and assistants prepared special projects which brought those in attendance together with students during class time. The girls demonstrated their
Kriah
skills, showed how to shape their
Alef Beis
letters and prepared gifts with their grandparents from their current
Shabbos
unit. Our seven Kindergarten classes created a variety of projects together with grandparents for a memory of the day. The love between the girls and their guests was so uplifting! After the grandparents returned to the Auditorium, the Kindergarten girls came and sang a medley of
Shabbos
songs from their
Shabbos
unit, delighting everyone in attendance.
After bidding farewell to their granddaughters, our visitors gathered their take home gift, an
Erev Shabbos
Shopping List notepad, and a warm cinnamon bun packaged for their ride home.
We thank volunteers and parents, along with devoted staff members who spent many late night hours working together, all contributing to the success of this wonderful event.
