Grandparents & Special Friends’ Day

This year’s event is Friday, September 26

Welcoming Grandparents & Special Friends to Paideia each year is a "make you smile" event. From the tiniest half-day student to the almost high school graduate, the kids love showing off their school to their special visitors.

We are delighted that you will join us for this special day !

This annual event is one of the highlights of the year for the Paideia community. We are excited to offer you an opportunity to visit your student’s classroom, have lunch together, and see Paideia in action.

Planning your day

Below, you will find a schedule based on the age of the student(s) you are visiting to help you make the most of your day at Paideia. For those of you visiting multiple students, please take the time to discuss the schedule with your students and their parents. With the Junior High now located across Ponce de Leon, we have a few more moving parts than in previous years.

Parking

Due to limited parking, we encourage guests to arrive with their student in carpool, get dropped off by a friend or loved one, or use rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. For those who are going to drive, we have six designated parking lots. Please see the Parking FAQs and map for more details. While handicapped parking (available in all lots) is not close to the registration tent, we will have shuttles and golf carts available throughout the day to help transport our visitors. Additionally, you may park in front of main campus along South Ponce de Leon Ave. AFTER 8:30 a.m., when carpool ends. We regret that we can’t offer any reserved handicapped parking.

Grandparents & Special Friends day map and Brochure — Map & Brochure (PDF)

Who is invited?
Do I need to RSVP?
What time should I arrive?
Where should I park?
When and where will I meet my grandchild or special friend?
What if I am visiting more than one child?
What schedule will I follow on September 26?
What should I wear?
How does lunch work?
What else can I look forward to?

Who is invited?

We have mailed an invitation to any grandparent or special friend for whom contact information was submitted by the parents. We want to make sure that your child has someone to share the day with. A special friend can be a neighbor, an aunt or an uncle, a babysitter—anyone in their life who makes them feel loved and cared for.

If your grandparent or special friend has not received an invitation, please contact Caroline Cook at 404-377-3491 x109 or grandparents@paideiaschool.org.

Due to space constraints, Paideia parents are not invited to the event. However, a great way to be a part of this experience is to volunteer on campus. There are many ways to pitch in, and we would love to have parents join the fun! For volunteer opportunities, check the Paideia Parent Center.

Do I need to RSVP?

Online registration is now closed, but walk ups are welcome. For more information, please call Caroline Cook at 404-377-3491 x109

What time should I arrive?

Your schedule is dependent upon the age of your student, so there is not one start time for the day. Please see "What schedule will I follow on September 26?"

Where should I park?

Before 8:30 a.m., guests may park in any parking lot EXCEPT for the lot under the Junior High building. After 8:30, you may park on South Ponce de Leon Avenue in front of the main campus or in ANY of our six parking lots, including the lot under Junior High.

All guests who RSVP will receive a detailed map in the mail prior to the event. Golf cart shuttles will run on the main campus from the parking lots to the school throughout the day. Shuttle buses will be available for those who are visiting students on the main campus as well as at the Junior High.

Parking FAQ

Parking FAQ

What is the easiest way to get to Grandparents & Special Friends’ Day?

The easiest, very best way to visit your student during this event is to have someone drop you off and pick you up from school. Many enjoy being dropped off with their student during morning carpool. There will be plenty of volunteers to direct you to registration.

Where do I park when I visit my Junior High student?

If you are visiting a 7th or 8th grade student, the best place to park is in the lot under the Junior High building, which will be available AFTER 8:30 a.m. If you arrive BEFORE 8:30 am, you may park at Lot D and hop on the shuttle to the Junior High or at Lot E and walk across Oakdale Rd. If you have an Elementary or High School student as well, that same shuttle bus can take you to the main campus. Please see the list of addresses below to enter into your GPS.

Where do I park when I visit my student in Half Day, Elementary, or High School?

We have four parking lots for those visiting Half Day, Elementary, and High School students. Please see the list of addresses below to enter into your GPS. AFTER 8:30 a.m., there is limited parking available directly in front of the school on South Ponce de Leon. The closest parking lot to Half Day is Lot D.

What if the parking lot I choose is full?

There will be a volunteer at each parking lot who can direct you to the next best option to park. They will also have a map to help guide you.

I understand you don’t have handicapped parking, but I have limited mobility. What is my best option for parking and getting to registration?

For those with limited mobility, your best option is to have a friend, relative, or rideshare company drop you off directly in front of the big white registration tent on the campus green (for Half Day, Elementary, or High School) or in the circular driveway in front of the Junior High. If you drive, we have parking attendants who will be happy to call for a golf cart to transport you to registration. Lot C has access to an elevator and might be best for those unable to walk.

I am pretty mobile but can’t walk a long way. How can I get a ride on a shuttle bus or golf cart?

We will have two shuttle buses and five golf carts available. Volunteers will be at each parking lot, all shuttle stops, and registration. Those volunteers can request a golf cart or shuttle bus to pick you up. Please be patient, as we will have 600 guests, and a lot of coordination is going on behind the scenes. We will get to you. We promise!

Half Day, Elementary, and High School Parking Lots
Lots A & B: 1509 South Ponce de Leon Ave. NE
Lot C: 711 Oakdale Rd. NE (Oakdale Hall)
Lot D: 1367 South Ponce de Leon Ave. NE (Atlanta Primitive Baptist Church)
Junior High Parking Lots
Lot D: 1367 South Ponce de Leon Ave. NE (take shuttle to Junior High)
Lot E: 1410 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE (St. John’s Lutheran Church)
Lot F: 1368 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE (Paideia Junior High)

When and where will I meet my grandchild or special friend?

Check your personalized schedule for details on when and where to meet your student. If you have questions, the many volunteers across campus will be happy to assist.

What if I am visiting more than one child?

If you are visiting more than one child, we have carefully curated a schedule that is made for you. You will receive your schedule in the mail and might find it helpful to discuss it with the parent of your student prior to arrival. Volunteers will be available to help while you are on campus. This year, the following times are set aside for classroom visits:

Morning Half Day: 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Half Day: 1:00–1:30 p.m.
Elementary: 9:40–10:20 a.m.
Junior High: 11:00–11:45 a.m.
High School: 1:25–2:15 p.m.

What schedule will I follow on September 26?

01 • Guests visiting Morning Half Day Student(s)
02 • Guests visiting Afternoon Half Day Student(s)
03 • Guests visiting Elementary Student(s)
04 • Guests visiting Junior High Student(s)
05 • Guests visiting High School Student(s)
06 • Guests visiting Morning Half Day Student(s) with Elementary Sibling(s
07 • Guests visiting Afternoon Half Day Student(s) with Elementary Sibling(s)
08 • Guests visiting Elementary Student(s) with Junior High Sibling(s)
09 • Guests visiting Elementary Student(s) with High School Sibling(s)
10 • Guests visiting Junior High Student(s) with High School Sibling(s)

What should I wear?

Paideia’s campus is quite expansive. We highly recommend dressing comfortably and wearing suitable shoes for walking.

How does lunch work?

Lunch will be provided for all grandparents and special friends. All students must bring their own lunch, as there will be no Pi Bites that day. Depending on the age of the child you are visiting, lunch begins between 11:30 and 12:45. Please note that parents are not able to join our special visitors for lunch, but we would love to have you on campus! Please sign up to volunteer HERE.

Elementary students will eat lunch at their regular times, but that is usually flexible if you are trying to coordinate times with siblings. Younger children will be escorted to the gymnasium by classroom volunteers. Students in the upper Elementary classes can meet you at lunch.

What else can I look forward to?

Throughout the day, there will be optional programming for your enjoyment. This will include musical performances, archival displays, student artwork, and talks with Paideia faculty.

Other all-day activities include:

Visit the library book donation sale in the Elementary Library (main campus) or Junior High Commons
Write a letter to your student
Shop Paideia spirit wear (Pi Wear)

Grandparents & Special Friends’ Day

We are delighted that you will join us for this special day !

Planning your day

Parking

We look forward to welcoming our grandparents and special friends to campus! Walk-ups are welcome.