Grandfriends IV

The day before Thanksgiving marked the fourth annual “Grandfriends Day” at the Craig Lower School in Mountain lakes. Over 70 family members -- grandparents, aunts and uncles, godparents, and even parents spent the morning at the school with the students. The group gathered first for a continental breakfast and then dispersed to the classrooms where they were treated to a morning of classes. Some of the children read original short stories, other groups were treated to a Trivial Pursuit game focusing on Thanksgiving questions, and one grandparent decided to buy a Smart Board for his business after witnessing a math lesson taught on a Smart Board.

After classes, the grandfriends assembled in the auditorium for a presentation by the Jazz-a-Ma-Tazz group, a live, interactive show for young people that introduces jazz in a fun way. Hayes Greenfield, the bandleader, had the kids and their families learning about the different sounds of the instruments and the meaning of improvisation. Hayes and his band jazzed up familiar songs and the families were invited to join in through “call-and-response, scatting, singing, interpretive sound and movement.” “When I get done with them they leave chanting, singing and knowing that jazz is alive and well," notes Greenfield on the Jazz-A-Ma-Tazz website.

One grandfather, Alec Benn who lives in New York, commented on the day by saying, "It was wonderful reliving one's own childhood in such a pleasant way." Charles Armbruster from Whiting, NJ, remarked that it was "an excellent opportunity for students and their grandparents to enjoy a wonderful day together."