400 Students Surprise Beloved Grandma Who Waved Good Morning to Them for 12 Years

Tinney Davidson had the surprise of a lifetime when 400 students filled her lawn with homemade hearts to bid her goodbye after 12 years of waving at them every morning.

For the past 12 years, Tinney Davidson has been waving at kids on their way to school, flashing them a warm smile. Soon, everybody’s favorite grandma is moving out, leaving the kids of Highland Secondary School in Comox heartbroken.

As a form of appreciation, 400 children gathered to surprise Davidson at her front lawn, with decorated hearts and posters, to wave her goodbye and blow her kisses for the last time.

The 88-year-old was all smiles as she sat on a chair in her front porch while watching the touching surprise of the students on Thursday. She thanked all of them for the “lovely” gesture.

Charlotte Hood-Tanner, a Highland art teacher, organized the surprise after hearing that Davidson, whom she befriended, will be moving to an assisted living home. The school made the announcement, inviting all the students to join before the end of the day.

“She is the perfect person for this. She’s just like a friend to all of us.”

She started the waving tradition in 2007 after seeing children look at her front window. She decided to wave at them everyday since.

“I just liked the look of the children, and they all looked in, and I thought if they’re looking in, I’ll wave to them, and that’s how it started,” Davidson said.

This was not the first surprise made by the students for Davidson. On Valentine’s Day, the kids gave her cards and hearts and invited her to a school assembly for a surprise another time.

News about students giving warm surprises to show appreciation is nothing new. In Bishop Manogue Catholic High School in Reno Nevada, students surprised their favorite lunch lady with her favorite meal and other gifts.

Lunch lady Lynn was a favorite because of her kindness towards the kids, which affected their daily wellbeing. One student said:

“She is the perfect person for this. She’s just like a friend to all of us.”