Teachers greet students and current teachers with ‘Annual Wave Day Event’
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Chester retired teachers continued an annual tradition this year on the first day of school by having their “Annual Retired Teacher Wave Day!”
Chester retired teachers pose for a photo with their “Retired Teacher Sign” Thursday August 14 on the first day of school. The occasion was the “Annual Wave Day” when the group assembles on the front sidewalk of retired teacher Norma Baughman to greet teachers, students, parents and others as they drive by on their way to Chester Grade School. Pictured are (left to right) Bea Conley, Carolyn Schwent, Joyce Wingerter, Toni Hosick, Tim Lochhead, Lois Tindall, Donna Clendenin, Paula Platt, Norma Baughman, and Nikki Aubuchon. Each Year Baughman hosts the group at her house for the event. She also had the retired teacher sign made several years ago to help publicize the group.
This fun event began more than two decades ago when three retired teachers, Linda Saunders, Eleanor Miller, and Mary Ann Stumpe, decided to “rub-it-in” to their teachers friends that had to still report to work on the first day of school.
Saunders, Miller, and Stumpe set up lawn chairs across from the Chester Grade School and sat in their chairs, relaxing with doughnuts and coffee as remaining teachers drove by on their way to CGS to report to school. The gesture was a fun prank designed to celebrate the fact that they were retired and DID NOT have to go to school any longer.
Naturally, not only current teachers saw the threesome in all of their glory, but students in busses or cars, staff members, and others driving by the small group, saw them and laughed, waved, honked their horns and had a good time enjoying the happy greeting that they received on their way to school.
The next year more retired teachers joined the three original retirees and each year for the ensuing decade additional retirees came to help celebrate the fact that they did not have to go to school on the opening day!
As time has passed, the event has evolved into not only being a day of “rubbing-it-in” to those teachers who still have to go to work, but it has become an expectation of every student, teacher, staff member, and passer-by that they will have a cheerful “first day” greeting as they pass by to go to Chester Grade School.
Retired teachers line the sidewalk in front of Norma Baughman’s home Thursday August 14 on the first day of school. This annual event has taken place for more than two decades in order to greet students, teachers, and staff members as they go to school at Chester Grade School. In the middle of the group are District # 139 Superintendent Kimberly Briggs, CGS Principal Tim Blair, and CGS Assistant Principal Kristin Petrowske. These administrators showed up to support the group and deliver fresh donuts.
This year there were 10 retired teachers that showed up to greet teachers, staff and students arriving at CGS. The event takes place on the front sidewalk of former teacher, Norma Baughman, who lives near the American Legion which is right across the entrance of the Chester Grade School. Teachers and others who decide to join the fun bring lawn chairs, coolers, doughnuts, signs, and other fun-makers to help greet the teachers and students.
Some years the group will go the breakfast after the greeting ends and other times participants bring doughnuts and other food items for the group. Each year for more than two decades the tradition has grown both in numbers and excitement, both on the part of the retirees and those who drive by the group on their way to school or work.
This year’s event took place on Thursday August 14. One of the organizers, Carolyn Schwent said, “The 2025 Welcome Back Event was a fun morning and hopefully we helped everyone have a great start to a great school year, for both students and staff.”
Former Chester Grade School Principal, Tim Lochhead, offers donuts to retired teachers Donna Clendenin and Paula Platt at the Annual “First Day of School” wave day Thursday August 14. Carolyn Schwent Photo
“Former CGS Principal, Tim Lochhead brought donuts. CUSD No. 139 Superintendent Kimberly Briggs, CGS Principal Tim Blair, and Assistant Principal Kristin Petrowske also came to welcome the group! They also delivered donuts.”
The group will definitely meet again next fall for their “2026 First Day of School Wave Day” to welcome teachers, students, parents, and others driving by, back to school.