Mill Creek Elementary School students Jack Willis and Wyatt Willis will welcome their grandparents, Terri Bennett, seated, and George Bennett, standing, for Grandparents Week. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Mill Creek Elementary School is introducing a week of observance for an experienced, insightful group of unsung heroes.

Starting Sept. 8, Grandparents Week “will be a special time to have our grandparents and ‘grand-friends’ visit classrooms and share a favorite story with our students,” Mill Creek Principal Dr. Claudia Styles said.

“Our grandparents and ‘grand-friends’ are our school’s greatest resource. They’re the first ones called to pick up children when mom’s work schedule gets too hectic, the first ones called to ask to support our fundraisers and the first ones called when we get a good grade on our science test,” Styles said.

Unfortunately, the school had not dedicated a special time to honor grandparents. “It’s important to set aside Grandparents Week each year and once again use them as a resource,” Styles said.

During Grandparents Week, “Muffins and Memories” will be one activity. All grandparents will enjoy muffins and coffee in the library before being escorted to their grandchild’s classroom to share a life experience.

Designated times for grandparents will be Sept. 8, fourth grade from 8 to 8:45 a.m. and kindergarten and pre-K, 9 to 9:45 a.m. On Sept. 9, third-grade grandparents will visit from 8 to 8:45 a.m., followed by first grade from 9 to 9:45 p.m.

On Sept. 10, second-graders will welcome their grandparents from 8 to 8:45 a.m. The time for fifth- and sixth-graders will be 9 to 9:45 a.m.

The planning committee suggests for grandparents to share a special memory from their early days in school, an old photo of family or school times, a favorite childhood book or family heirloom, like a quilt.

Legacy Elementary School introduced Muffins and Memories when Styles was principal there. “It was such a big success that I wanted to carry it over to Mill Creek,” Styles said.

“It always touches me to see the grandparents interact with the children and to hear them share their stories,” Styles said. “The kids learn so much through this experience. It’s a mutual excitement shared between the young and not-so-young.”