By Karen Hall

Editor

Grandparents flocked to schools last week and this, to see what their little ones were learning, and meet their classmates and teachers.

At Cornersville Elementary, it was a reunion for the grandparents as well.

"It's a very tight-knit community," said Dr. Ray Wakefield. All four of his children graduated from Cornersville, and he currently has six grandchildren there, spread out from 1st to 6th grade.

"I'm blessed," Wakefield said. "I'm meeting people whose children went to school with mine."

Don and Dot Singleton had four children and all but two of their nine grandchildren in Cornersville schools, and Dot worked in the school for 28 years.

"We're well represented here," laughed Don.

"We're glad you came," said principal Cheryl Ewing to grandparents who were waiting to visit the classrooms. "The children are very disappointed if no one shows up. Some of the little ones cried," she said.

Soon grandparents fanned out into the halls, looking for their students. Teachers welcomed them, and had special projects prepared that would show off what the children have been learning, and, in some cases, letting the grandparents participate.

In Susan Jones' English class, each student created a grandparent acrostic, with a word for every letter of "grandparent."

Amanda Putman's class showed off their interactive Promethean board by solving algebra problems.

Mary Margaret Walker's art students painted a family tree, while in Angie Moffet's music class grandparents played Bach's "Minuet in G" on the bell sets.

"Some had never played before," exclaimed Moffet, "But they all caught on, and it turned out really good."

Cornersville Elementary houses 451 students from kindergarten through 6th grade. It was built in 2002, when John David Pierce was director of schools, Barbara Kennedy was chairman of the school board, and Terry Wallace was county executive. A lot has changed since then, but not the teachers' dedication to giving their pupils the best education possible.

"I wouldn't want to work anywhere else," said fourth grade teacher Jan Salsman.