Generations come together for school lunch

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Kindergarten students at SeDoMoCha Elementary had the opportunity to share with some loved ones part of their school day during a grandparents’ luncheon on Sept. 12 — less than a week after National Grandparent’s Day which in 2014 was celebrated Sept. 7 or the first Sunday after Labor Day.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    CELEBRATING GRANDPARENTS AT SEDOMOCHA — Grandparents and kindergarten students at SeDoMoCha Elementary in Dover-Foxcroft got together to enjoy a luncheon at the school on Sept. 12, a week after National Grandparent’s Day on Sunday, Sept. 7. About 75 visitors enjoyed a meal with the students, who total 72 across four classes.

    “We kind of started some traditions last year with a Mother’s Day Tea and Father’s Day Game Day, these have all been successes,” kindergarten teacher Erica Tapley said. “We thought this would be a great day to incorporate grandparents.”
    Tapley mentioned her students and those in the other three kindergarten classes often talk about their grandparents, or others who the youngsters have similar types of relationships with. The luncheon provided an opportunity for the teachers and pupils’ relatives to meet. “I know they are excited to see their grandparents and vice-versa,” Tapley said.
    The visitors first gathered in the school lobby as the kindergarteners walked from their classrooms across the building to the cafeteria, with many recognizing some familiar faces and greeting them with an excited wave. The grandparents then followed to the larger of the two dining areas at SeDoMoCha.
    On the menu was a hot lunch of fish sticks, tater tots and fruit or a choice of several salads the grandparents could order in advance. “We need to thank the lunch service,” Tapley said, saying the food service personnel took the time to prepare the salads in addition to all of the other daily food items for the entire pre-K to grade 8 student body.
    “Everyone was really accommodating just for us,” Tapley said, saying the kindergarteners and visitors were able to occupy the entire cafeteria with other grades having their lunch and recess schedules altered. She said the kindergarten lunch period was extended by 20 minutes to allow for more time for visiting.
    “We had 75 grandparents and we have only 72 students,” Tapley said, as the group of diners filled the tables set up throughout the cafeteria. As those present enjoyed their meals, the teachers and school administrators were able to go around and meet the grandparents, many of whom they had heard so much about.