Grandparents walk runway at SWLCA event

Published 6:28 am Saturday, September 10, 2022

“We always like to do something unorthodox, something that will get the parents excited and the grandparents excited,” said Dr. Ranyel Trent SWLCA School Counselor. In the past, SWLCA hosted bingo and breakfast for visiting grandparents.

Trent explained that this year they wanted to kick things up a notch, and do something that would allow the grandparents to “enjoy and remember their youth.”

“My mom is a grandparent, and she likes to strut even in her 60s,” she stated. “We’re gonna give them an opportunity to just strut their stuff, and we’re gonna celebrate with them while they are here.”

SWLCA Principal Kim Lewis wanted to ensure that her staff and students made time to recognize the familial role that grandparents play. She stated, “We know how important grandparents are to the family structure. We know that grandparents fill in the gap when the parents have to work.”

Trent recognizes that grandparents are “vitally important,” and are able to provide irreplaceable knowledge and skills.

“Celebrating our grandparents is extremely important because they are our foundation. They are our matriarchs,” she said. “They are the ones who have set the pathway.”

Due to their importance, Trent believes that it is paramount to celebrate grandparents and their actions. “We never want to get to the point where we no longer recognize their worth and their value to a community.”

She explained that the lack of a grandparent can have detrimental effects on students. “We recognize that absences of the true grandparents are the cause of the decline in behavior and academics.”

With this in mind, she continued by stating that they ensured that there were “foster grandparents” at the event to fill that absence for students.

Approximately 40 grandparents gathered to grace the rose-covered, white carpet in a wide variety of outfits.

The aesthetic of the runway was well thought out, said Trent. “Instead of the red carpet we have a white carpet because we wanted to represent the wisdom that they bring,” she explained.

She continued by explaining that the rose petals represented the honor that they aimed to bring grandparents with this event. “Those that have favor walk upon rose petals,” she said. “We wanted to give them their flowers while they are still here.”

The event was emceed by SWLCA School Enrollment Administrator Ashley Manuel. Alongside Manuel was her daughter, Chloe Manuel.

There were six categories that grandparents and grandchildren could walk: Formal, Business, Casual, Sport, Church and Other.

In return for “strutting their stuff,” participating grandparents received a gift bag with snacks and “SWLCA swag.”