Preschool director Lenora “Ponie” Mojado welcomed everyone by saying, “Today we want to celebrate all the special grandparents who fill our kiddos’ lives with love, wisdom, and the sweetest memories.”

In keeping with the event’s theme, she shared that just like apples on a tree, every grandchild grows stronger because of the care, support, and guidance given to them by their grandparents.

“Apples start small, but with sunshine, water, and time, they become bright, strong, and full of goodness,” she said. “That’s exactly what you do for our little learners—you help them grow with your kindness, your stories, and all the hugs you share.”

Mojado thanked them all for “being the roots that keep our families grounded and the branches that help our children reach for the sky.” She expressed her gratitude to those who attended and said she hoped the celebration reminded them of how loved and appreciated they are.

After performances by each class, pre-k teacher Ana Garcia provided a blessing, and lunch was served by the preschool teachers and staff. The walls were decorated with posters declaring, “If apples were grandparents, I’d pick you,” and “Tiny seeds grow mighty trees,” among others.

Easton Lewis is a pre-k student who was excited to spend the morning with his Nana Heather Baeza, grandmother Tara Soto, grandfather Nicolas Soto, and great-grandmother Margaret Swan. He shared the gifts he made for them including a laminated page with his photo and the following “Sweet Grandparents” message: “An apple is red, an apple is sweet, just like my grandparents who can’t be beat! You pick me up when I’m down, you help me grow all around. You’re kind, you’re fun, you’re the best there is! I’m so lucky to have you—I love you more than you know!”

Patrick and Tara Placencia had four of their 10 grandchildren with them, two of which attend the preschool—Talla Grant, who is in pre-k and Layla Placencia who is in the youngest class. Some of their handmade gifts included a framed recipe for Crock-Pot Applesauce and wooden flowerpot holder from Talla with her miniaturized handprints and a canvas tote decorated with Layla’s colorful full-sized handprints.

Shannah Modesto and Enrique Medina are grandparents to 11, which includes kindergartner Kavikvish Medina. They also have great nieces and nephews that attend the preschool. The youngster’s other grandmother, Amber Soza, said her favorite thing about being in this role is “watching your own child parent theirs.”

Tukaamawish “Dada” Briones, 3, has four older siblings who all attended the Soboba Tribal Preschool. Tracy Briones, said her grandchildren bring her lots of joy and help her feel uplifted when things are hard. His other grandmother, Patty Coronado, has nine other grandchildren and said, “It’s nice to see them growing up and watch them reach all their milestones.”

Renee Rhodes’ youngest of seven children is kindergartner Laylah Robledo, who was happy to share the day with her great auntie Carlene Masiel, who is related to four other preschool students, and her grandmother Betty Arres.

“I love cooking for them,” Arres said. “They love to eat and nobody goes hungry.”

Sonia Modesto is a teacher at Noli Indian School and was joined by her husband Lawrence Modesto Jr. as their grandchildren applauded them at the event. Nikiilish is in preschool and Neqpikat “Neqo” is in kindergarten. Sonia was happy that Nikiilish’s teacher coaxed her to take part in the performance with her classmates.

Having raised a son and a daughter, Sonia said, “I like that I get to do everything over again.”

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Preschool Administrator Lenora “Ponie” Mojado said the event was an opportunity to thank everyone for their participation in activities at the preschool.

The children had made crafts for their loved ones including coloring flowers that were laminated with the following verse on the reverse side: “Grandparents, grandparents make us laugh, love to play, when we get together, we smile all day.” A photograph tag was attached to a chain to be worn as a bracelet or necklace and other handmade trinkets were gifted to each grandparent, great grandparent and even a few great-great grandparents who were there.

Marian Chacon has five grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She has two great-grandsons attending the preschool this year; kindergartner Anthony Ortega, 4, and Brian Chacon III, who is in pre-K. Chacon was asked to give an opening prayer at the start of the event in which she thanked the Lord for a beautiful day where everyone could come together and be respectful and kind to one another. She asked for a blessing on all who were present as well as the food they were about to eat.

Guests were treated to a buffet brunch that included eggs, hash, chicken, potatoes, rolls, fresh fruit and a dessert table full of sweets.

Dondi Silvas has two grandsons plus a granddaughter, Loovi Burton, who is in kindergarten. She was at the event with her mother Yvonne Silvas, grandson Jovi, and Loovi’s other grandmother, Stacy Perkins. Isaiah and Maria Vivanco have a total of nine grandchildren and three of them, Jericho Vivanco, Kuyvaxish Mendez and Kwiinamush Maxcy, currently attend the preschool.

“It’s nice to see everybody here and to see the kids so happy; it’s good that the preschool brings everybody together to have a nice day,” said Johnna Valdez, who has three grandchildren who are students there. “I also like that they’re with their cousins while at school.”

Kindergartner Palki Herrera has attended the school since she was two years old. She was at the event with her grandmothers, Adonna Salgado and Monica Herrera.

“I went to the reservation preschool when I was young,” said Herrera, whose grandson Gabriel graduated from the kindergarten class in June. “The kids have good relationships with the teachers, and they always do a lot of fun stuff alongside the set curriculum.”

Salgado’s daughter Alylah, now 10, attended the Soboba Tribal Preschool and she felt it really prepared her well for public school. “It gave her a good foot forward,” she said.

Both women agreed that all their kids always make really cute things to take home, with this day’s crafty gifts being no exception. “I have all their projects hanging in the hallway of their play area,” Salgado said.

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