A day to remember: Grandparents’ visit also marks celebration of school’s safety program

Students at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Indianapolis walk and ride their bikes to school on April 23, a day that celebrated the north side Catholic school’s involvement in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Safe Routes to School” program. (Photo by John Shaughnessy)

By John Shaughnessy

Of all the bonds that mark people’s lives, the most pure one may be the relationship between a child and a grandparent.

For a child, a grandparent often provides the kind of unconditional love that children thirst for, the wondrous feeling that they can do no wrong in their grandparents’ eyes.

For grandparents, a grandchild is a life-affirming sign of the continuation of family, another reason to hope for the future, and the joyous opportunity to experience the blessings of childhood again—without the daily worry and the primary responsibility of raising the child.

Yet to know the true beauty of the bond between a grandchild and a grandparent, you just had to see the ear-to-ear smile of Ella Gebke on the morning of April 23.

For some of her fellow second-grade students at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Indianapolis, that morning was special because of the swarm of attention that descended upon the north side Catholic school.

A helicopter hovered above the neighborhood. Police on bicycles and in squad cars provided escorts for children walking and riding their bikes through the neighborhood to school. And television camera crews lined up in the school parking lot to interview Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, U.S. Representative Andre Carson and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

It was all part of a morning to promote the “Safe Routes to School” program. The U.S. Department of Transportation program encourages walking and biking to school by making routes safe for students and their parents.

Ella and her brother, Henry, a kindergarten student at St. Thomas, were part of the buzzing scene. Henry rode his bike to school while Ella walked there, all the time staying close to a distinguished-looking man in a light grey suit—Secretary LaHood. Or, as Ella calls him, “Grandpa.”

For Ella, this morning was far more special than an opportunity to promote the “Safe Routes to School” program. This morning was the beginning of Grandparents’ Day at St. Thomas Aquinas School. And her Grandpa and her Grandma—Kathy LaHood—were there.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood rests his hands on the shoulders of his granddaughter, Ella Gebke, on April 23, a day that marked the observance of two special events at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Indianapolis—Grandparents’ Day and the celebration of the “Safe Routes to School” program. LaHood is the grandfather of Ella, a second-grade student at St. Thomas, and Henry, a kindergarten student. (Photo by John Shaughnessy)

Before the press conference with the television reporters began, Ella continued to stay close to her Grandpa. She was by his side when a reporter for The Criterion asked him about being at his grandchildren’s school on Grandparents’ Day.

“We missed it last year,” LaHood said. “Ella was so disappointed that, six or eight months ago, we put it on our schedule to be here.”

Without being asked, he added, “I grew up in Catholic schools and I believe in Catholic schools. My very first teaching job was at St. Joseph School in Pekin, Illinois. I also taught at Holy Family School in Peoria. I taught junior high social studies. That piqued my interest in politics. I left teaching to go into politics. I’m glad my daughter and her husband have sent their children to Catholic schools. I’m really pleased in raising my own children in Catholic schools, that they thought enough to send their children to Catholic schools.”

He also shared his thoughts about setting an example for his grandchildren through the “Safe Routes to School” program.

“Henry and Ella were looking forward so much for us to come to their school for Grandparents’ Day. And it’s good for them to see us involved in programs like this. We become role models for them.”

A short while later, Ella gave her Grandpa another hug and told him that she had to go to her classroom.

Soon, television news reporters started questioning the three politicians about the “Safe Routes to School” program. As part of the program, St. Thomas Aquinas School has established walking routes to school that are supervised by parents who volunteer.

Watching the press conference from a quieter place in the parking lot, Amy LaHood, the mother of Ella and Henry, talked about what it meant to her children to have their grandparents at school on Grandparents’ Day.

“It’s such a close-knit family environment at St. Thomas that they wanted their grandparents to be part of it,” she said as she stood near her husband, Kevin Gebke, and her mother. “Ella and Henry hopped out of bed today before anyone else was up. From the first time we were here in Indianapolis, we never really considered another school. It’s because of the family environment here.”

Inside the school, Ella and her second-grade classmates prepared for the school Mass that would officially begin Grandparents’ Day. Stepping outside the classroom with principal Jerry Flynn, Ella was naturally shy as she was introduced to a reporter. But her shyness gave way to a glowing grin when she was asked about her grandparents being at school for Grandparents’ Day.

“I feel really special,” she said. “I feel really good they have the opportunity to come. I love to spend time with them. I just like to hang out at their house, and visit them in Illinois and [Washington,] D.C.”

During her trip to Washington on spring break, Ella and her family had the opportunity to meet President Barack Obama in the White House.

“It was really exciting and fun,” Ella recalled. “I said, ‘Nice to meet you, Mister President.’ ”

She smiled again. Her grin grew even bigger as she turned her thoughts to Grandparents’ Day.

“I get to share this with Grandpa and Grandma,” Ella said. “This is the best Grandparents’ Day ever.” †