The hallways and classrooms at Rossville Elementary School were filled with more smiles and many more visitors as 799 grandparents came to campus for the school’s annual Grandparents’ Day celebration on Friday, September 25, 2026.
The event has become a Rossville tradition, bringing generations together and giving grandparents an opportunity to experience a school day through the eyes of their grandchildren.
Throughout the event, students eagerly welcomed their guests into classrooms, introduced them to teachers and friends, and showed off the places where they learn each day. Grandparents joined students for creative classroom activities, toured the elementary school, and made memories that extended well beyond the normal school routine.
The large turnout was particularly notable for Rossville Elementary, a PK-5 school that serves roughly 445 students. The school is part of Rossville Consolidated School District’s shared K-12 campus on Robert Egly Drive, where elementary students learn in the same overall complex as Rossville’s middle and high school students.
With hundreds of visitors expected, planning for the event began well before Grandparents’ Day. District officials previously approved the use of two school buses to provide shuttle grandparents from Rossville Methodist Church and the Church of the Brethren, helping accommodate the large number of guests arriving on campus.
Once inside, grandparents and students had plenty to do.
Along with classroom activities and school tours, families visited the book fair and stopped for photographs in front of a special Hornet backdrop. Another popular part of the day came courtesy of the Rossville Lions Club, which served ice cream to students and their grandparents.
While the activities provided plenty of entertainment, the heart of the event was the opportunity for students to share a part of their everyday lives with people who play an important role in their families.
For Rossville Elementary, that connection fits closely with the school’s emphasis on relationships and community. Principal Chad Dennison describes the school as a place “where kids come first,” with approximately 27 certified teachers and another 12 to 15 support staff serving elementary students. The district’s mission similarly emphasizes providing students with rich academic opportunities in a trusting community environment.
Grandparents’ Day put that sense of community on full display.
Teachers and staff welcomed the steady stream of visitors, while volunteers helped coordinate an event that required considerable preparation to accommodate nearly 800 grandparents. The school’s Parent Advisory Council, or PAC, sponsored the celebration, with volunteers, staff members, and community organizations working together to make the day possible.
By the end of the event, students had done more than show grandparents their desks, classrooms, and schoolwork. They had the opportunity to connect two important parts of their lives: family and school.
School officials thanked PAC, the Rossville Lions Club, staff members, and the many volunteers who contributed to the celebration. But the biggest thank-you went to the grandparents themselves.
Their attendance, 799 strong, transformed an ordinary school day into one filled with photographs, classroom projects, ice cream, laughter, and memories.
For Rossville Elementary students, it was also a chance to proudly show their grandparents what it means to be a Rossville Hornet.
