Photo credit: Lola Thomas

Mikayla Winfield (’30) engages in team-bonding activity with her grandmother. Archer’s 24th annual Grandparents and Special Friends day took place Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14.

For two days each year, students get the opportunity to see some of the familiar faces closest to them on campus — their grandparents and special friends. 

The 24th annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day took place Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14. Visitors participated in a campus tour, bonding activities with their grandchildren and watching the Middle C’s and the Unaccompanied Minors perform. Associate Director of the Archer Fund Marissa Boyle spearheaded the planning for the event. Boyle described the purpose of hosting Grandparents and Special Friends Day annually.

“It’s a really wonderful way to bring a part of our community to campus that doesn’t normally get to come here — if their granddaughters don’t participate in things like sports, theatre or the music program, they maybe have never come to campus,” Boyle said. “It’s a way for them to interact with Archer in a different way and connect with the space that their granddaughters spend most of their time in.”  

This year was grandparent Misty Delcambre’s first time attending the event. Her granddaughter, Paris Prepetit (‘31), is a new student at Archer. Delcambre previously taught at Paul Revere Middle School, which is close to Archer. Delcambre said she had hoped Prepetit would someday attend Archer. 

“I’ve passed [Archer] for many years. I’m a retired teacher, and I taught at the school down the street, so I passed Archer believing one day that she would attend here,” Delcambre said. “I was very excited and surprised when Paris and her parents decided that this was the place for her.” 

Shelia Crawford is the mother of alumna Nikea Crawford (’12), and her granddaughter is Naima Sojoyner (‘31). Crawford initially attended the event to connect with her granddaughter but was impressed by the advancements made to Archer’s campus. 

“The tour was impressive. There were a lot of new additions as to when our daughter attended the school,” Crawford said. “I was pleased to see the expansion of the school, and very pleased with the additions — we wanted to be here for Naima, because we love her.”

A rainstorm hit Los Angeles Thursday, March 13, the same day as the event’s opening. The event — usually held outdoors — was moved to the library. Despite this adjustment, Boyle said planning Grandparents and Special Friends day is rarely difficult, thanks to assistance from faculty members.

“The biggest challenge this year was that the weather was not cooperating with us. This year we had to make a quick shift to hold it here in the library,” Boyle said. “Overall, this event is relatively easy to plan, because we have so much help from our facilities team, as well as admissions, who help create the tours, and all of the faculty and staff who make sure that this event is as good as it can be.” 

Delcambre described Grandparents and Special Friends Day as a chance to learn about her granddaughter’s daily life. She said this event, and Prepetit’s sixth-grade experience thus far, have proved Archer to be an inclusive, uplifting environment. 

“This is the first event that I’ve been to on campus. Paris is a part of the volleyball team, and they have opened their arms and welcomed her on the team,” Delcambre said. “I feel comfortable here, Archer is a safe place for girls to experience life with other girls like themselves.”