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Grand Avenue ‘children’ reunite in Western Springs
Front row: Sara Bres, Zoe Irons, Rachel Briones, Alyssa Christoffer, Gabby Yore, Laurel Piper, Caitlin Yore, Zandy Van Tholen, Zoe Irons, Anna Victorine, Jennifer Breslin. Back row: Jim Van Tholen, Rory Chole, Ryan Leslie, Clint Piper, Steven Schroeder, Michael Schroeder, Kevin Skweres, Myles Emmons.
Updated: February 19, 2013 11:42AM
WESTERN SPRINGS — You can go home again. Or at least back to preschool.
More than 20 alumni of the Grand Avenue Day Care from 15-20 years ago got together Dec. 28 for a reunion.
It was a party born on Facebook, as assistant director JoAnn Buralli followed up on a post from one former student and began reaching out to other former students and day campers.
“Within just a couple of weeks, over 20 kids started Facebooking back and forth that they would love to come back to Grand Avenue to see everyone,” said director Mary Rizzardini.
The school organized a fried chicken dinner with pot luck side dishes, just like the celebration each year after summer camp.
“The kids and their parents showed up and had fun reminiscing about their pot luck performances when they attended Grand Avenue’s summer day care,” Rizzardini said. “All of their old costumes were hung up around the gym and video tapes of their performances were playing for them to watch.”
Buralli and former teacher Mary Ryan Kennedy attended, as well as current teachers Melanie Kedzuch, Kathy McGannon and Therese Klaibor.
The former students shared some of their escapades of the past, while staff enjoyed seeking the grown-up kids and learning what college or careers they have chosen. While some still attend Lyons Township or Fenwick high school, others are now attending Marquette, Vanderbilt and Michigan universities or working in biochemical engineering, endoctrinoloy and medicine.
