Wooster has a handful of memorable traditions, including Convocation, Junior Moving Up, and Senior Sendoff. One favorite is Grandparents and Special Friends Day, as we get to introduce new members to our unique community. Each year, students have the opportunity to bring friends and family to Wooster. Grandparents and Special Friends are treated to breakfast and go to classes with their student for the first half of the day.
Before it became Grandparents and Special Friends Day, the tradition was known as Parents Day. It functioned as a mix between what we would now refer to as Back to School Night and the current Grandparents and Special Friends Day. A Wooster Anyonomus article from 1976 detailed the schedule of the day: parents visit classes with students, are treated to lunch in the dining hall, and listen to a speech from the Head of School.
In the years before 1976, Parents' Day was hosted on Saturdays while the school still functioned as a boarding school. Schedule announcements from Reverend John D. Verdery in September 1963 said that following Parents Day, “there will be a football game between Wooster Varsity and Millbrook School.” The day has always been meaningful and continues to hold an important place in the Wooster community's hearts.
As Wooster transitioned from a boarding school to a day school, many traditions evolved to reflect the changes in the community. Parents' Day gradually shifted into what is now known as Grandparents and Special Friends Day, which places a greater emphasis on generational connection beyond just parents.
Even though the structure of the day has changed over time, it still has the same goal: To bring the Wooster community together.
This change allowed students to share daily experiences with a familiar support system, including grandparents, family friends, and more. The day gives people the opportunity to experience the school’s environment firsthand and reminds them of their high school memories.
This year, similar traditions remained, starting with the warm welcome and breakfast. In the Alumni Gym, all our special friends gathered to eat food, listen to wise words from Head of School Matt Byrnes, and enjoy music from both Middle School and Upper School music groups.
Then, guests connected with their Wooster host and joined in on their classes. For many, the experience offers a meaningful glimpse into students’ daily lives.
“I’ve been coming for years, " one grandparent said. “Every year I’m impressed by how engaged the students are and how much the school continues to grow.”
Others who were experiencing the day for the first time shared similar enthusiasm. “This is my first visit, and I’m amazed at how comfortable the students are in their classes.”
When reflecting on differences from their own high school experiences, another special friend said, “There is such an emphasis on discussion here. When I was in school, it was much more lecture-based.”
Mary Anne, the grandmother of sisters Crosby ‘27 and Campbell ‘28, particularly enjoyed her day on campus.
“Seeing Wooster through my granddaughter's eyes has been so inspiring,” she said. “You can tell this is a place where they feel supported and challenged, which helps me to understand how important this community is in shaping the young women they are becoming.”
Grandparents and Special Friends Day is more than just a long-standing tradition; it reflects Wooster’s strong commitment to forging lifelong connections. By inviting loved ones into the classroom, students can share an important part of their lives.
Even for those who didn’t have a grandparent or special friend attend, the day was equally fulfilling. For many, it was just as fulfilling to get to know the family members of our peers around us.
As the tradition continues to evolve, its impact remains to bring people together and remind us of what makes Wooster so meaningful.
Charlotte '27
Advanced Journalism Student
Lucy '27
Advanced Journalism Student
