Grandparents & Special Friends Day, a tradition celebrated for lower and upper school every year, was celebrated for the first time since COVID-19 last Friday. 

This celebration involves close family members or friends, and demonstrates a day in the life of a Convent & Stuart Hall student. This day can bring families closer together within the school community, according to sophomore Maddy Aldecoa.

“I love seeing everyone’s family members come together and interact, especially in a school environment where that’s not really common,” Aldecoa said. “It’s really a fun day and I enjoyed being able to spend time with my grandpa and show him around the school,”

Seeing family members can be difficult to make time for, especially considering students’ workload from school and after-school sports. The inclusion of special families in a day on campus can create a tight-knit community — not only within the school but also within student-guest relationships, according to sophomore Niamh Powell. 

“I’m very excited to see my grandpa, who I haven’t seen in a while,” Powell said. “He’s coming into town just for the day, and I’m excited to show him what my school life is like,”

Many grandparents and special friends traveled mostly from areas closer to San Francisco, however, Convent & Stuart Hall still encourages students to get in contact with family on this day, according to Aldecoa. Students appreciate the space and time to see family — as well as the integration of that time with a normal school day. 

“I think my grandparents really enjoy seeing how I live my life on a day-to-day basis,” Aldecoa said. “It’s nice for them to be able to see the school I go to and to be able to meet some of my teachers,”

Teachers and faculty also helped to include the guests in most class conversations to immerse them in their student’s environment, and to provide them with an interactive experience. The guests were able to attend classes from a Russia-Ukraine Analysis, taught by Global Politics teacher Martin Jorgensen to an analysis on the Arnolfini Portrait, taught by Art History teacher Sarah Garlinghouse. 

“My grandpa particularly enjoyed art history,” sophomore Phoebe Brockway said. “He was very interested in the art we were learning about, and he told me it was really fun to be there with me,”

Not only did the special guests get to partake in classes, but also in group dynamics with the students’ friends. Guests and hosts could decide whether to have lunch with students or alone.

“I’m very excited for my grandparents to meet my friends,” said Aldeoca, “I think it will be a good time for them to bond not only with me, but also with my surrounding community.”