Each class performed two songs they learned especially for the Grandparents Day event, with each group singing “Oy Noma’max.” The Luiseño language lyrics translate to “I love you with all my heart.”

Preschool Administrator Lenora “Ponie” Mojado welcomed the full room of guests. “Grandparents are the foundation of the family, and they make our family feel complete. They hold a special place in everyone’s heart and bring us all together. Today, Soboba Preschool honors all grandparents. We cherish the memories, moments, and traditions that you pass down, especially the art of storytelling. Wishing you the very best on Grandparents Day. Thank you so much for coming. NuSuun Loviqq Achama! (My heart is good, thank you!),” she said.

She then read a poem by Stacy Smith, titled “Grandparents Are Special People.” It reads: “Grandparents are special people, with wisdom and pride. They are always offering love and kindness and are always there to guide. They often make you feel so confident and strong. Their arms are always open, no matter what you did wrong. They try to help out in every way that they can. They love all their grandchildren the same, whether you’re a child, woman or man. They are always there to listen, and to lend a helping hand. They show you respect, and they try to understand. They give their love, devotion and so much more, that’s easy to see. Grandparents, what perfect examples of the kind of person that we should be.”

Before all visitors were treated to a delicious meal of barbecued chicken, macaroni and cheese, beans, corn, potato salad and more provided by Tribal Chef Anita Morillo, a blessing was given by Marian Chacon who was at the event with her grandson Brian “Cobra” Chacon and great grandson, Brian, 4.

She thanked the Heavenly Father for the “gift of the children who have brought such joy and happiness into the lives of us grandparents.”

The theme was evident throughout the gymnasium with signs made by children in each of the classrooms that paid tribute to their elders. A poster that read, “Thank you for helping us grow” contained cutouts of many types of flowers that were colored by the kids. “Thanks for helping us bloom” was written on cutouts of watering cans filled with flowers that the children had colored themselves. Another colorful poster read, “Love makes everything grow better.”

Along the walls were strung seed packets of different types of flowers and families were invited to take some home when they left. Each table was set up with an interactive craft the grandparents could do with their grandchildren. Containers of paint were set out for them to decorate small terracotta pots that each guest was given when they arrived. They can later be filled with the flower seeds they chose to take home.

The youngest students, who are in the preschool class and only three years old, completed the sentence, “I love my grandparents because…” with clever and honest comments shared on a wall poster. Talla Grant said, “They’re my favorite people ever.” Damian Mariscal said, “We watch Minecraft together.” Hunwut Castello completed his sentence with, “They give me ice cream all the time.”

Teachers and staff were dressed in their finest floral fashions, which blended in perfectly with the theme of the special day.

National Grandparents Day is celebrated in the United States on the first Sunday in September following Labor Day. Grandparents have a special connection with their grandchildren that is proven to both make grandparents live longer and also make children more emotionally resilient. Grandparents Day is an opportunity to treasure that connection and spend some quality family time together. Seasonal flowers are often given in appreciation to grandparents on this day with the official flower being the forget-me-not.

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Among the many families who’ve made this event a cherished tradition are Albert Kissinger and Michael Church, two dedicated members of the Kids Fishing Tournament Committee, whose stories span multiple generations of fishing memories at the Golden Era lakes.

Albert Kissinger, the Committee President, brought his son Shane to the very first tournament held at the site in 1999. Shane not only caught his first fish that day, but proudly took home a trophy he still has to this day. Fast forward to 2024—Albert’s grandson, Biagio Simioli, also caught his very first fish during this spring’s tournament.

“My favorite part is watching a kid catch their first fish—it never gets old,” said Kissinger. “I’m probably just as excited as they are!”

A proud member of the Point Seekers Bass Club, Albert organizes these events to share his love for fishing and give back to the community.

“I like to spread enjoyment and let kids experience the outdoors and the excitement fishing brings.”

Albert encourages anyone interested in volunteering—whether it’s helping at weigh stations or supporting kids at the lakeside—to contact him at N2bass1960@yahoo.com.

Another committee member, Michael Church, shares a similar legacy. Church brought his then-6-year-old son, Joshua, to fish in the tournament 25 years ago to one of the Golden Era lakes. That day, young Joshua snagged second place. Now, Church’s grandson—also named Joshua—has followed in their footsteps, continuing the family’s fishing tradition at Golden Era.

“I started fishing when I was six, thanks to my uncle,” Church shared. “Now I’m passing that on. Fishing keeps my kids away from drugs and gangs—and they love it!”

A proud father of five and grandfather to twelve, Church’s entire family enjoys fishing. Three of his grandkids, along with his daughter, brother, and wife, all joined him at this May’s event.

“I think it’s awesome that you open up your lakes for the community,” said Church, a San Jacinto native.

The next Annual Kids Fishing Tournament is already on the horizon—mark your calendars for Saturday, March 28, 2026—and get ready to cast a line and make new memories with your family.

The post Beloved Kids Fishing Tournament Reels in a Heartwarming Family Success appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The children had surprise gifts for their moms, too. They decorated canvas tote bags and filled out questionnaires “All About Mom.” Preschooler Nadia said her mom’s name is “Mommy” and that she is really good at “everything.” A classmate of hers said their favorite thing about their mom is “when she gives me cookies.”

Pre-K students used colorful handprints in a circle to resemble a flower to which green stems were painted on. Inside was a jar candle decorated with a mosaic made from colorful tissue paper. Kindergartners colored flower pots that were printed on the totes and decorated plates that were put inside each one. Grandmothers received keychains with mini handprints on them.

Glori Lindsey said her daughter Avareign, 6, did a “berry good job” with all the gifts she made. “I love everything so much,” she said. Glori was able to spend some valuable time with her family, which also includes two sons, on the official Mother’s Day of May 12 at a resort in Palm Springs.

Celena Morillo and her daughter, Menyil Tohee, 5, enjoy everything the preschool has to offer. “I like all the different things they ask them to make; they are very creative,” Celena said. On Mother’s Day her family cooked her breakfast and then all her sisters came over for lunch and to spend time together outside.

Rosemary Morillo is great-grandmother to Avareign and grandmother to Menyil and shared the time with fellow grandmother Nancy Beltran. Another great-granddaughter of Morillo’s is Nehsoon Salas, 5, who filled in the blanks “All About My Mom” by saying if she could tell her mom one thing, it would be, “You are gorgeous.” The kindergartner’s mother Avelaka Gonzales said this is the first year her daughter has attended the preschool.

“She has learned so much about animals and plants and she’s having fun while she’s doing it so that’s the best part,” Gonzales said. On Mother’s Day she was treated to a spa day while Nehsoon and other family members cleaned the house for her.

Morillo, who offered a blessing before the brunch was served, said, “It’s always an honor to get together with all the mothers,” she said. She asked the Creator to bless all family members in attendance and reminded everyone to “cherish these moments with your young ones, as time goes by so fast.”

Preschool teachers and staff served up mini cold cut sandwiches, two kinds of salad, chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and pasta salad. There were also bags of chips and other crunchy snacks, a huge bowl of fresh berries and strawberry topped cupcakes and Rice Krispie treats. All of this was washed down with lemonade, bottled water or a refreshing strawberry drink.

Corryn Salgado-Flores enjoyed the morning with her daughter Love Salgado-Flores, 3, and son Ace Covington, 5, along with their grandmother Becky Flores. Corryn said she likes that the preschool offers her children a chance to learn their Native language. “They also get to go to school with a few of their cousins,” she said.

The event provided an opportunity for all siblings and relatives who are in different classrooms to be together to celebrate as a family.

Tribal Council Secretary Monica Herrera has two grandchildren who are students there; Pre-K student Palki and kindergartner Gabe who were with their mom, Alyssa Salgado.

“I like the themes they do every year; it’s always super cute,” Herrera said. “I love that the school does this to bring the community together.”

Cyndi Lemke, whose grandson Iggy Alcala is in the kindergarten class, had a great personal Mother’s Day. “All the moms came to my house,” she said. “All us ladies had snacks and watched movies while the guys made and served breakfast. It was also my birthday, so I got extra flowers.”

Soboba Tribal Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado said, “I came to celebrate with all these special moms.” Mother of two, she enjoyed her own Mother’s Day on May 12. “We had Sunday brunch at the casino, which was amazing.”

One of the newest moms in attendance was Daise Burton with her five-week-old son, Jobi, who has an older brother Joseph, 8, and an older sister, Loovi, 4, who is in Ana Garcia’s Pre-K class. The kids were joined by their “glamma” Dondi Silvas, who serves as Soboba Foundation President and Housing Specialist for Soboba Housing.

Sierra Mendez had a second son six weeks ago and was at the event with her four-year-old son, Kuyvaxish Mendez, who is in Lenora “Ponie” Mojado’s class. Sierra also has a stepdaughter, who is 10. She was pleased to be one of the lucky raffle prize recipients and chose a satin sleep mask and pillowcase set, sure to be well used in the future. Other choices were handbags and cast-iron pans.

Preschool teacher Mojado has two sons; Mac is 10 and Eli is 8. She had spent Sunday with family at the Soboba Casino Resort’s brunch. “It was amazing; they had a buffet with different items,” she said. “Then I went shopping at Bath and Body Works and later I went to my sister’s house for family dinner. It was the perfect Mother’s Day of relaxing and shopping.”

She enjoyed giving out prizes at the raffle and said the mothers in attendance seemed to feel really appreciated and enjoyed the food they were served.

“My favorite part about working with children is they make me laugh and smile,” Mojado said. “We always joke around in my preschool class. I always make the children laugh and carry on a conversation. It’s always a fun time in the preschool room with all my little friends.”

Julissa Garcia is an Instructional Aide in the pre-kindergarten classroom. Celebrating Mother’s Day with her almost one-year-old son included going to dinner with her mother and aunt.

“My son and his dad also shared gifts and gave me a couple extra hours of sleep,” she said.

She enjoyed the feeling of togetherness at the preschool’s brunch.

“I liked seeing all of our children’s families show up for them and their reactions to the handcrafted gifts they made in class,” Garcia said. Her favorite part of working with the young children is “seeing them grow and progress each day and being given the opportunity to help foster lifelong learning.”

Preschool staff have already begun preparations for a Father’s Day luncheon on May 31.

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