Grandparents Day at Malad Elementary School is without a doubt one of the biggest days on the calendar.  The full morning of activities gives students a chance to show off what they’ve done during the year to their families, and most especially their grandparents.  Each classroom was set up with the student’s project displays, grandparents were invited to join their grandkids for lunch at the cafeteria, stop by the book fair, and of course, enjoy the traditional talent show.

This year’s Grandparent’s Day was bittersweet in the way many events of the school have been this year.  As the year draws closer to its end, the last moments of the school building that has meant so much to so many come into sharper focus.  While there will still be some events on the school auditorium stage, there will never be another grandparents day on the familiar one that has hosted so many in the past.

This year’s celebration was also filled with mixed emotions after the recent unexpected passing of teacher Erin Hawkes, who absence left a palpable void in the school’s hallways.  A memorial display was set up in the entranceway to allow students and parents alike to commemorate her incalculable contributions to the school and the lives of countless students over the years.

A recent tour of the new school building by the School Board demonstrated the extensive progress the project has made in recent months.  Principal Sarah McIntyre and her faculty and staff are all eagerly anticipating the amenities of the new school, including reliable temperature controls, robust internet functionality, modern design features, and safety upgrades.  They can’t, however, ignore a certain nostalgia for the quirky elements of the soon to be gone building.

One of the yearly features of Grandparents Day is the wide variety of students invention presentations.  The students are tasked with designing an invention that could help people in their daily lives, by improving an existing idea or creating a product that fills an unserved need.  The creativity and problem-solving on display was impressive, with such inventions as Weston Armstrong’s slingshot, Daniel Oseguera’s Scam Detector, Madelyn Gonzalez’s Shake andScoop, Lineni Lavaka’s Book Holder, Karmyn Charles’ unspillable Cup, Colbie Hammer’s Sweater That Can Heat Up But Also Cool Down, Annabelle Shandrew’s Trapdoor Driveway 3000, Sofia Hess’ Warm Jar, Elijah Napier’s Handpack, Brem Lloyd’s Self-Loading Dishwasher, Keith Armstrong’s Black Ink Eraser Pen, and scores of other intriguing projects.  

The inventions require a demonstration or model, and a series of explanatory paragraphs that explain how the SCAMPER model has been applied to the idea.  SCAMPER stands for Substitute Combine Adapt Modify Put to other uses Eliminate Rearrange or Reverse.  While some of the inventions may run into problems with real-world physics, many of the inventions also stand a real chance of becoming realities down the road, and it’s great to see these future engineers and designers put their focus on practical solutions to problems.

The day also includes the long-anticipated talent show portion, which gives parents and grandparents a chance to witness their kids’ talents on a big stage.  

A combination of live performances and video clips helped showcase the many talents of Malad’s students, with a wide range of skills on display from dance and music to gymnastics, dirt bike racing, and hunting and fishing.

Dance was the talent of choice for Alyssa Seamons, McCall Clark, Cassidy Schrenk.  A number of students treated the audience to piano performances, including Lineni Lvaka, Lydia Hatch, Ruby Coleman, Megan Moss, Eva Coleman, Levi Hatch.  Alivia Seamons and Madelyn Gonzalez played cello.  Olivia  Briscoe played her violin.  Sofia Hess played her guitar.  Liam Atkinson and Karmyn Charles sang a duet.  Austin Schrenk and Blakely Horsley performed a gymnastics routine.  Ike Carter performed some of his amazing rope tricks.  Video clips were shown of Gannon Steed, Whitney Roe, Maudee Leavitt, McCall Clark, Kallie Nimer, Colt Price, Aidyn Call, Kyler Blaisdell, MaCoy Luke, Andie Talbot, Bryten Bastian, Riggin Reeder, Prezli Ball, Cache Maroney, Thatcher Sweeten, and Cache Lake.

The program was largely put together by Christine Smith, who wrote the script, directed the music, and put together the program.  The Lighthouse Team includes Bryten Bastian, Rustin Montgomery, Liam Atkinson, Annabelle Shandrew, Riggin Reeder, Lineni Lavaka, Rhyze Anderson, Kinsley Neal, Thatcher Sweeten, Karmyn Charles, Sofia Hess, Devin Ball, Ruxin Smith, Eva Coleman, Aidyn Weber, Alyssa Seamons.  The Team coordinators are Nicole Daniels, Kim Jeppson, and Christine Smith.  Zach Palmer, Cherysh Brees, Mahayla Crowther, Brittyn Venable worked as greeters and ushers.  Kim Jeppson and Trina Grote ran lights and sound.  The try-out judges were Nicole Daniels and Jana Davis.  School maintenance is run by Devin Morrison and Jeff Richins.