By Angela Hayes | Special to the Advertiser

The Verbena Annex faculty opened their doors on Sept. 11 to students’ grandparents, in recognition of Grandparents Day on Sept. 13.

In staggered rotation, kindergarten through second grade students met in the Multi-Purpose Room with members of their families to create a “family tree” with their shared handprints.

Jeanne Walker, grandmother to kindergartener Bentley Walker, was one of the attendees.

“I love it that they recognize that grandparents are still a part of the family,” Jeanne Walker said.

Bentley Walker also said he enjoyed the event.

“It’s great!” he said.

It was a sentiment echoed widely around the room.

For many, it is an event looked forward to every year.

“I drove from Flomaton just to be here.” Brenda Burch said, more than happy to sit side-by-side with her granddaughter as they painted each other’s hands.

For several kindergarteners, Grandparents Day was a family affair, as many grandparents got to celebrate the day with more than one grandchild.

Snapping pictures as fast as he could, John Robinson was joined by several family members and four grandchildren who each took turns helping to create their “family trees.”

“Twelve years ago, I was here with my grandson, and now I’m back with his sister,” Fannie Robinson reminisced.

When asked what they enjoyed best about Grandparents Day, Sandra Mims and Evangeline Griffin, grandmothers to first grader, Alexis Griffin, both agreed they liked it because kids were having fun spending time with family and making a project.

Becky Byrd, grandmother of first grader Avery McConnell, said she would love to see the event continue.

“It was nice to be able to come to school as a grandparent,” Byrd said.

For grandson McConnell, the best part of Grandparents Day was “that the grandparent’s get to come!”