For next year, we are going to have it in September, I believe. It has been a big success and the event this past year was the best ever. We are a religious school, so we started with a chapel service. The hard part about that was the seating--it required LOTS of thought. Then, grandparents accompanied their grandchild to their classroom where they did some sort of interactional activity so it wouldn't be boring (an idea I heard was for each child to have a map and the grandparents could show the children which states they had been to and maybe tell them about their visit there); we had a parent in the classroom to take pictures (those were supposed to be sent home later); Then we ended with the refreshments and some door prizes and entertainment but we're scrapping that in favor of the Book Fair. Then we'll dismiss early in hopes that the children and grandparents can go out to eat. We are literally SWAMPED with grandparents. Parking was a zoo! Be sure and have LOTS of volunteers on hand to direct traffic. OUrs was a bit of a nightmare in that area!
PMCW

When is day supposed to be celebrated for the 2004-2005 school year. This sounds like a great idea for our school.

I know this is after the fact, but our school, which is a private school of about 375, has a Grandparents/special Friends Day every year. This year, we started with a chapel service; then they moved onto the classrooms for a visit where they did an interactive activity with the child (some grades did an interview of the grandparents or some little project together). We also had a parent volunteer in the classroom to take a photo. Then the grandparents gathered in the gym for brunch type refreshments and a little program where some kids sang, etc. We found, though, that the program was probably unnecessary because the only reason people came to that part was to see their own grandchild sing. Next year, we're going to make it coincide with our Book Fair so the grandparents can come to Book Fair with their grandchild. We are going to have an early dismissal, too, so they can go to lunch together.
PMCW

We have Grandparent/Special Friend Lunch Day at our school. The Special person would come to the school at their child's lunch time and enjoy lunch together. Our PTO pays for the Special lunches that are purchased. We limit two or three adults per child. Towards the end of every lunch period, That grade will do a different presentations (sing-a-long, sing a funny rap They made up, a short play, etc.) for their guest. The Adults enjoy the time with the children.

Is "Grandfriends Day" your name for grandparents day? If so, I like that name a lot especially for the kids whose grandparents are not able to be present. Anyway, for our grandparents day, we
are a parochial school, so we started with a mass celebrating our special visitors followed by donuts, coffee, and juice. Our school choir did a short performance and the children gave tours of their school & classrooms. Our art teacher set up a simple backdrop for polaroid pictures of the kids with their grandparents.
(And received $200 in donations for art dept.)
Hope this helps.

We are getting closer to our annual grandfriends day. What dod you do for grandfriends day? Any ideas would be much appreciated!