EXETER — Wyoming Area Catholic School came alive with the colors of spring on Friday for its annual Mother’s Day events that brought mothers, grandmothers and even aunts to the school to spend time with students.
The day opened with a tea party for students in second and third grade, with poetry reading, gift giving and a “Let’s Talk” time, enabling students to ask mom and grandmom, “What’s your favorite movie? “What’s your favorite memory?”
Carrie Jackson attended the event with her daughter Sarah, 8, and said she appreciated the opportunity for “alone time,” celebrating in a quiet setting and getting to know each other better.
Sarah said she especially enjoyed making a craft that included flowers, color and even a bit of grass.
Sarah’s grandmother Cheryl Banashefski also attended the event, with the three generations taking time to talk with one another while enjoying festive colorful treats put together for the occasion.
Lisa Pollard also attended with her son Roger, 7, and her mom Levonia Pollard, with the three getting to know each other during the Let’s Talk to Mom and Grandmom time, asking what makes them happy.
What seemed to make mothers and grandmothers happiest was spending time with family and memories of their children.
“It’s a great time to spend with family,” said Levonia Pollard. “And, everything is decorated so nicely.”
Lisa Pribula, Parent Teach Guild president, said she put the event together about three years ago when she took her position.
“We’re a Catholic school,” she said. “We’re about faith, love and family. This embodies that.”
Pribula said over 100 were in attendance and she got positive feedback from both students and their mothers and grandmothers about the food, the atmosphere and the activities.
Noon brought mothers and grandmothers to the school to spend time with pre-K through first-grade students for an annual planting activity that again highlighted the importance of families spending time together.
That event opened with parents spending time in the classroom with their students, then moved to the auditorium and then outside to plant perennials around the school.
“It’s been going on since before me,” said Pribula. “But, we’ve added a few things to it, formalized it a bit.”
Pribula said older students will participate in “Muffins with Mom,” and “Donuts with Dad” later this month.
“We want to bring parents to the school,” she said, “to reinforce the importance of family.”
