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A new breed of grandparents play vital roles at schools
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February 27, 2015
Grandparents Elma and Raul Ramos (at right) attend Mass with their grandchildren during recent Catholic Schools Week festivities honoring grandparents and others who play a special role in the school children’s lives. Elma Ramos is holding future Shamrock Yssa Garza. Also pictured are first grader Becca Garza and Aryanna Garza, who attends pre-K4 at St. Patrick.
St. Patrick School for South Texas Catholic
Today’s grandparents are taking on increasing roles of responsibility, from volunteering several days a week at their grandchildren’s schools, to paying Catholic school tuition or even raising their grandchildren in the absence of biological parents.
“Grandparents at our school play an integral role in their grandchildren’s education,” said Evelyn Burton, principal at St. Patrick School. “Many times they sent their children to Catholic schools and are now helping with their grandchildren’s Catholic education, either by picking them up after school, dropping them off, volunteering or even paying tuition.”
Burton added the school has two faculty members whose grandchildren also attend St. Patrick.
“It was heartwarming to see all the grandparents at Mass during Catholic Schools Week recently. The children were surrounded by so many loved ones, you could tell they absolutely loved it,” she said.
Yvonne Brown, secretary at St. Patrick, said some parents would not be able to bring their children to St. Patrick School without the support of grandparents.
“The pride and love I see from grandparents every day is truly amazing,” Brown said.
Sixth grade teacher Susan Buquet’s three daughters are all graduates of St. Patrick and now she has a granddaughter in pre-K3.
“I get to see her every morning. She makes sure to stop by my room on her way to class. Not only do I work at St. Patrick, but I also volunteer, as well. Grandparents add a special level of attention for their grandchildren and for me, it’s about providing for the extra things,” Buquet said, who celebrates 20 years at St. Patrick this year.
Grace Moore’s grandson, Holton Robinson, has attended St. Patrick since kindergarten and is now in fifth grade. She volunteers three times a week at the school’s library, assisting with checking out books and keeping the library tidy.
Susan Buquet, 6th grade teacher at St. Patrick School, works with her granddaughter JonMarie Martin, 4, during her computer lab time. JonMarie attends K3 at St. Patrick and Susan sometimes spends time with her between classes.
Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic
“I volunteer because giving back makes me feel good,” she said. “You can tell the kids are loved here and it’s one big, happy family. I wish more grandparents volunteered. Not only does it make your heart feel good, but you get to spend extra time with your grandchildren, too!”
Moore, who is retired and travels to the school from Port Aransas, also pays tuition for her grandson and said the investment has already paid off in dividends.
“The basic values and respect for others has been instilled in him at school from the very beginning. There is no replacement for teaching life lessons at an early age. It becomes a part of their daily lives and part of their being,” she said.
Janie Ortega-Garcia worked for the Corpus Christi Independent School District for 31 years as a school secretary. After retiring, she knew she loved that job too much to say goodbye forever, so she decided to volunteer a few days a week at Ss. Cyril & Methodius School. Her granddaughter Brooke Garcia is currently in first grade at the school.
Grace Moore (right) volunteers at St. Patrick School three times a week, which includes checking books out to students in the school library. Her grandson, Holton Robinson (left), attends 5th grade at the school.
Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic
“It feels so good to volunteer at her school, providing clerical assistance in the office. Thanks to God, I am retired, but I love volunteering and being near my granddaughter. I have lunch with her often and she knows I’m more than likely here if she needs me. To me, that sense of security is a priceless gift I can give her,” Ortega-Garcia said.
Lilly Samaniego, principal at Ss. Cyril & Methodius School, said grandparents play a major role in the lives of students.
“Nowadays, both parents must work and duties like picking up kids at the end of school or bringing them lunch in the middle of the day are left to grandparents. I know this firsthand, because as a working mother, I count on my own mother to do the same for my children,” she said with a chuckle.
Samaniego said several grandparents at her school pay tuition for their grandchildren and there are at least two couples raising their grandchildren.
“One of the grandparents raising her grandchildren said to me the other day, ‘This isn’t what we had planned for this stage of our lives, but we wouldn’t change a thing.’ Grandparents today have evolved to being second parents to their grandchildren and that is beautiful because it just means more people to love these children,” she said.
