Over 300 grandparents are expected to attend the upcoming Grandparents/Grandfriends Day Mass hosted by Notre Dame Academy on Wednesday, November 23.

This special event has been hosted by Notre Dame for approximately five years now.

Mr.Geno McKenna, Director of Events and Alumni Relations, is in charge of Grandparents Day as it is an event that involves the entire school.

“This event has become one of the most cherished celebrations we host at our school,” McKenna said.

The Notre Dame Academy community invites all grandparents and grandfriends to a morning of celebrating them.

McKenna coordinates the food and beverage for the reception, collects the RSVP’s and finds student volunteers to help direct the guests.

Other members of the NDA staff pitch in to make this event doable as well.

Ms. Uelmen, Marketing and Communications Manager, helps get the word out through social media and letters that are sent to NDA parents. Mr.Kriegl, Campus Minister, takes care of organizing the mass and all of the students that participate in the service. Mr.Masarik, Associate Principal, coordinates the parking.  In addition, Mr. Eric Novotny and the maintenance staff work on getting the school facilities ready for the event.

“Our group meets several times to make sure everyone has their area of responsibility under control,” McKenna said, speaking on behalf of the behind-the-scenes workers.

The Grandparents/Grandfriends Day event starts off with a breakfast reception at 9 a.m. in the commons for the grandparents/grandfriends and their NDA student. Mass follows in the Schneider Triton Center at 10 a.m.

NDA hosts Grandparents/Grandfriends Day around the Thanksgiving holiday as an opportunity to make the grandparents feel special and allowing them to spend time with their grandchildren at school.

“Notre Dame wants our grandparents/grandfriends to know how special they really are. We could not think of a better way than to bring them to the school and hold a special Mass in their honor,” McKenna said.