Editorial

On Tuesday 20 October, we had the privilege of celebrating Grandparents and Special Friends Day, a special occasion that highlighted the vital role these important people play in the lives of our children. In every thriving school community, there is a partnership at work that extends far beyond the classroom. While parents and teachers play a central role in a child’s development, grandparents and special friends provide an invaluable layer of love, wisdom, encouragement and faith, helping to shape young lives in profound and lasting ways. Their presence reminds us that raising children is a shared endeavour, enriched by the relationships, experiences and values passed from one generation to the next. 

There is something rather wonderful about being a grandparent. You have the privilege of loving your grandchildren unconditionally, cheering them on at sporting matches and concerts, celebrating achievements both great and small, sharing stories from years gone by and, occasionally, providing a few treats that Mum and Dad might not have approved of. It is, by all accounts, a terrific arrangement. 

Yet beneath the fun and laughter lies a much deeper contribution. Grandparents and special friends offer children something few others can: a connection to a bigger story. Through family traditions, treasured memories and personal experiences, they help young people understand where they come from and the values that have shaped their families. They are often the patient listeners who make time for the long story, even when it takes several unexpected detours. They celebrate milestones, achievements and everyday moments that matter deeply to a child. 

For Christian families, grandparents also play a vital role in passing faith from one generation to the next. Through their example, prayers and everyday lives, they model what it means to trust God and live faithfully in His world. They remind children not only who they are, but Whose they are: known by God, loved by God and created in His image with unique gifts and purpose. 

This truth is especially evident at MECS. Among the grandparents and special friends in our community are members of the founding generation who helped establish the school. Years ago, they carried a vision for Christian education that recognised faith should not simply be added to learning but should shape the whole way children understand God’s world and their place within it. The seeds planted in faith by a previous generation continue to bear fruit in the lives of our students. 

The partnership between families, schools, churches, grandparents and special friends reminds us that raising children was never meant to be done alone. Their influence strengthens families, builds community and ensures that wisdom, values and faith are passed faithfully from one generation to the next. In a rapidly changing world, their partnership remains one of the greatest gifts we can offer our children.

Malcolm Pirie

Head of Primary