Ear-to-ear smiles adorned the faces of senior citizens and children at the annual Grandparents Night celebrated on March 1 at Lakeland Elementary School.
It was hard to say who had the most fun during the PTA-hosted event. On a rotating schedule in order of last name, each set of grandparents and grandchildren enjoyed activities on tap for the evening, including a variety of crafts, treats, dance lessons and a photo booth.
Active participants of the Lakeland Senior Center joined the excitement, serving as surrogate grandparents for those students who didn’t have grandparents attending the event. Marilyn Piccatto, there on behalf of the Lakeland Senior Center, said she was thrilled to be a stand-in grandparent for the occasion.
Piccatto, who doesn’t have grandchildren of her own, was paired up with eight-year-old Anna Shaffer. The two were matched up at the check-in table, and then they set off to enjoy a few more activities hosted in the foyer of the school. Afterward, they took dance lessons in the gym, indulged in making crafts in the cafeteria and captured their smiles in a photo booth.
Anna said she enjoyed learning about Ms. Piccatto and making a new friend. She was surprised how much they had in common, and said she was a lot of fun.
“I’m looking forward to next year,” she added.
Piccatto said, “Anna was such a delight. It was so much fun. I got to experience what being a grandparent is like and loved every moment of it.”
KIM ODOM is special events coordinator for the City of Lakeland.
