If you’re looking for a great employer, ACS offers the best benefits. I’m reaping a few of those “fringe” benefits myself this year.

You see, until the summer of 2020, my office was located at the secondary campus in the administration office. But as of September 1, it has been temporarily relocated to the elementary campus due to the building project.

Although I miss the staff at the middle and secondary school, I am now getting to know some of the staff at the elementary school (cohorts permitting of course).

But the best benefit of moving to the elementary is that almost every day after school, I am greeted by two of my 10 grandchildren. Of course, having lollipops ready for them helps. But once the candy is out of the wrapper, they take me to their mom’s classroom, my daughter-in-law Suzanne Riezebos’ grade 2 class. And there, the two grandchildren and I play school.

Just Ask Miss Nadia

My older granddaughter, Nadia, usually is the teacher. Yours truly and Scarlett, the younger one, are the students. Of course, I try and misbehave from time-to-time, only to either stand in the corner or be sent to the “principal’s” office. The role of principal is also played by Nadia, the teacher. One day I managed to be almost expelled from the school by her. If that happened, I’m not sure who would be doing the payroll the next day!

And then there are the math tests she subjects her students to. Working with numbers all day, I confess my math skills aren’t the greatest. Just ask my teacher, Miss Nadia! I have managed to get only D’s and F’s.

I Ate It

One day we did a very special math exercise. Miss Nadia drew four chocolate chip cookies on the white board, and I had to count how many cookies there were. The answer I gave her was “three.” Of course, her frustration (dare I say exasperation) grew: how hard can it be to count to four?!

Yet she graciously corrected me by stating that there were four cookies. To which I responded, “But I like chocolate chip cookies, so I ate one.” That’s why there are three! Her mother overheard the exchange and couldn’t help but laugh at this comic relief.

But Miss Nadia wasn’t going to let me get away with this.

The next day, she came up with a new strategy. She asked me which donuts I don’t like. I told her. “Chocolate long johns.” That’s all she needed to know. So she drew four long johns on the white board, and this time I couldn’t wiggle my way out of this math test. I had to admit there were four as I couldn’t have eaten any of them.

I’m Okay With It

My youngest grandchild, Scarlett, is in kindergarten. She is already dreading my move back to the secondary/middle campus in September, once the new admin office wing is ready. She keeps asking me, “Opa, why do you have to move next September?”

My move is a loss for her. But for me, it’s also a gain. I will once again be on the same campus as my oldest granddaughter Alexis, my wife Louise, (aka Mrs. Riezebos), and my son Mike (aka Mr. Riezebos). We just won’t be playing school, but I’m sure we can come up with some number games.