Interview with a Grandparent

Steve and Mary Meadow

What are the names and ages of your grandchildren?

Eve Meadow is 5 years old and is now applying for kindergarten. Her sister, Sarah, has just started kindergarten at Brentwood. Eve and Sarah have a younger sister, Ruby, who is 1 year old. Lucy Valner is 4 years old and has 3 siblings: Sophia, 15, Nicole, 13, and Harrison, 9, all attending Brentwood.

What do they call you? (Grandad, Pops, etc.)

Harrison calls me Gramps, but all of the others call me Grampa. All of our grandchildren call their Grandmother, Mary, “Mom.”

Please recount a fond memory of a moment shared with your grandchildren.

There are so many excellent ones: Summer in Nantucket, fishing, water fun on our boat, knee boarding, rafting, etc.

We also enjoyed our trip to Europe with the two older girls, Sophia and Niki, Hawaii and many Christmas vacations with our entire family, plus lots of fun dining together on many occasions. The best thing of all is just being together.

What do you hear from your grandchildren about their experiences at Brentwood School?

Over the past 10 years, the most often heard comment is, “We love Brentwood School.” Sophia and Niki love competing in sports, making wonderful friendships, and the nurturing feeling of education and social responsibility at Brentwood School.

Sarah is in love with school and can’t wait to get her uniform on (and that started during the summer!) She is first to be picked up each day on the bus and is always ready for school.

All of the children love the school plays, the outdoor activities, and the warm attitude of their teachers.

What do you like most about Grandparents and Special Friends Days?

We love seeing the enthusiasm of their day, the class work, the fun activities, singing, meeting with the children and their teachers as they proudly show us what they have accomplished.

What do you want your grandchildren to take away from their years at Brentwood School? What life lessons do you hope they will learn?

Of course, we hope they will gain a solid education, which will prepare them for both college and their future occupations, whatever they may be. Additionally, social skills and making friends, working with others, understanding that they are fortunate to be in such a school that instills values for becoming a successful adult. College will be exciting and a challenge, but they will be well-prepared. (We know that from Elissa ’96 and Bradley ’97 who did very well in college and went on to also earn advanced degrees: Elissa earned a Master’s and an MBA; Bradley earned a Law Degree.)

Probably as important as learning subjects is the social element of learning. The future requires them to work, live, and be educated in an ever-changing world. They will acquire these skills at Brentwood School and will, therefore, achieve a well-rounded, total education.

You’ve experienced Brentwood School from the perspective of a parent and of a grandparent. How has the school changed over the years?

From all I have seen, the quality of the education continues to be more challenging and well-rounded. The physical facilities are always being expanded and modernized. Fresh leadership has changed the attitude of the faculty, and all of the changes seem so positive. The enthusiasm today is so commendable. I was a member of the Board of Trustees for 6 years and feel that the faculty is so committed to seeing these wonderful children get the best possible advantages in life from the best possible education. This is such an admirable goal.

Please write any additional comments or thoughts you may have about being a grandparent, about your grandchildren, or about Brentwood School.

I feel fortunate that I was a parent who saw first-hand the quality of the Brentwood School education and the well-rounded graduates you prepared for the future. Elissa and Bradley are the beneficiaries of that quality education.

I love attending Grandparents Days, seeing the work that our grandchildren produce and the smiles at all the various days activities; from the photos—we do treasure them—to the classroom work, to meeting their friends, classmates, and teachers. It is as much their day as ours.

In all my years of working and of being a director for so many organizations, charities, and schools, my grandchildren have our undivided attention and that is why we continue to be supportive of Brentwood School and will be for the rest of our lives. It is more than a return on investment—it is seeing our grandchildren grow because of the quality of life Brentwood School offers in them.