Annual Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day Brings Loved Ones to Campus From Near and Far

Head of School Ryan S. Dahlem welcomed the visitors, offering a warm greeting to grandparents from all over the country, especially those who had traveled long distances. He spoke to the importance of grandparents in his own life, telling the audience about his late grandmother, Harriet “Hatsie,” who was a drummer like him, and whose drum set he now plays in the basement at the Head of School house. 

Dahlem also acknowledged the importance of the grandparent role for Middle School students in particular. “Middle school is a time of tremendous growth, change, and development,” he said. “And that’s where you come in…showing unconditional love, a listening ear, perhaps some life lessons, and that unique haven of support that grandparents and special friends show so well.” He also gave visitors a preview of things to come at Rivers, sharing news of the school’s updated strategic plan, mission, and core values.

Ginny MacDowell P’96, ’99, GP’12, ’24, grandparent co-chair of The Rivers Fund, then took the mic, inviting those in the room to support the work of the school and introducing co-chairs Tom Lyons P’99 GP’30, ’32 and Lou Grossman ’67, GP’31. “Rivers is more than a school; it is a community that fosters growth and joy,” MacDowell said. 

Head of Middle School John Bower P’31 honored the “mentors, storytellers, cheerleaders” who occupy a special place in the lives of their grandchildren. “You have a way of offering both wisdom and comfort in equal measure,” he said. He shared how caring relationships are at the core of the Middle School experience at Rivers, supporting an environment of curiosity, connection, and care that enables students to do their best work. 

“This fall alone, we’ve seen students dive into oral history interviews with family members and community elders, design and test scientific experiments, and wrestle with big questions in literature and history. We’ve seen sixth graders bring ancient Rome to life at their Latin banquet, seventh graders bring empathy to life through their study of immigration, and eighth graders bring artistic perspective to life in their photography unit,” said Bower. “Every one of these experiences asks students to see the world—and themselves—more clearly.”

Musical performances included four offerings from different ensembles. The Middle School Chorus, led by Krissy Skare, performed the pop song “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors, with Paul Huberdeau on piano. They were followed by the Middle School Chamber Ensemble, led by Dan Shaud P’31, performing an arrangement of “Tonight” from Bernstein’s West Side Story. Zoë Iacovelli led the Rivers Middle School Conservatory Program Musical Theater Ensemble in a performance of “Rotten to the Core” from Disney’s Descendants. The musical performances concluded with the Middle School Big Band, under the direction of Bill Jones, playing “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown, during which several students gave their first improvised solos. 

Guests then heard from Matthew Wang ’30, who spoke about his Rivers experience and how he has been able to put Rivers’ core values into practice. “Everyone speaks of perseverance and how it is essential for success. Even though perseverance is created by not giving up and sticking to your plan, Rivers has helped me develop this value through curiosity. Throughout my life, my curiosity and urge to learn more have led me into countless unforgettable opportunities,” he said.

Following the programming in Kraft Dining Hall, students posed for photos with their grandparents and special friends before heading off to classes, which spanned subjects from science and math to Latin, Spanish, art, and humanities. The day ended with a special lunch back in Kraft Dining Hall. 

As Bower expressed it earlier in the day, the tradition of Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day is a valuable way to celebrate the special relationship between generations. 

“I often think of school as a kind of intergenerational relay—each of us passing wisdom, encouragement, and perspective to the next. Grandparents, you model for our students what it looks like to live a life of meaning, humor, and grace,” he said.