Canal Elementary School held its first ever “Invite Your Parents To Lunch Day” on Jan. 20 and had a more successful turnout than the school anticipated.
Approximately 130 parents and grandparents registered for the extended lunch period. But on the day of the event, 160 people showed up, more than had registered.
Principal Jeremy Ray said the idea to invite parents to lunch originated from the need for parents to have more opportunities to visit their children’s school. “We were looking for another way to get parents involved, where they could meet their kid’s friends and other parents,” he said.
Laurel Siulinkski, an alternative worker at the school, agreed that the lunch was a good way for parents to get involved. “We wanted to give parents the chance to be here for other occasions instead of just parent-teacher conferences,” she said.
Siulinkski said the students loved the idea of having their parents there for the afternoon. “The kids were really excited,” she said. “They thought it was pretty cool that they got to lead them around and show them how to get lunch.”
Fifth graders Kaleb Bourassa and Ian Murray, both 10, had their fathers join them for lunch. Bourassa said he thought it was a good idea for parents to be able to come and check up on their children. “It was cool to meet your friends’ parents and for your parents to see what you do at school,” he said.
Murray said he liked that the kids got to spend time eating lunch during the weekday with their parents, something they rarely get to do during the school year. “I like being with my dad and we only usually get to have lunch together on weekends,” he said.
Both boys agreed it was a good idea for the school to continue having “Invite Your Parent To Lunch Days.” In fact, they thought the school should hold them more frequently.
Luckily for the students, their principal agrees. Ray is already planning to hold an outdoor picnic and cookout in the spring for parents who weren’t able to attend along with any other parents who would like to have lunch with their children again. “This is an event that we hope to hold yearly,” he said.
Canal lunch About 160 parents and grandparents attended Canal School’s first-ever “Take Your Parents to Lunch Day” on Jan. 20. Principal Jeremay Ray hopes to make the event an annual one.
Canal kids Canal School fifth graders Kaleb Bourassa, right, and Ian Murray, left, both said they would like to see the school have another event for parents and kids to share lunch together.
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