SVRCS Community Engagement Program partners with Life Skills Class to host monthly Senior Social
A party of generations
AMBER MORRIS/FOR THE EXPRESS Area Senior Citizens and Life Skills students sit together at the March SVRCS Senior Social, enjoying a musical performance by SVRCS Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, Broc Phillips.
AMBER MORRIS/FOR THE EXPRESS SVRCS 6th grade student, Daniel Workman, poses in his best suit with guest, Linda McCaulley of McElhattan, as the two make a craft together at the Senior Social.
AMBER MORRIS/FOR THE EXPRESS Mary Lou Rueve of Lock Haven, and SVRCS freshman, Jesse Homan, have fun playing tic-tac-toe at the February SVRCS Senior Social.
AMBER MORRIS/FOR THE EXPRESS Area Senior Citizens and Life Skills students sit together at the March SVRCS Senior Social, enjoying a musical performance by SVRCS Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, Broc Phillips.
AMBER MORRIS/FOR THE EXPRESS SVRCS 6th grade student, Daniel Workman, poses in his best suit with guest, Linda McCaulley of McElhattan, as the two make a craft together at the Senior Social.
AMBER MORRIS/FOR THE EXPRESS Mary Lou Rueve of Lock Haven, and SVRCS freshman, Jesse Homan, have fun playing tic-tac-toe at the February SVRCS Senior Social.
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LOGANTON -- Music, food and crafts bring to mind a party, with friends and neighbors having fun together.
That's exactly what happened when the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School Community Engagement program, partnered with the SVRCS Life Skills class, to bring a monthly Senior Social to Loganton -- a party of many generations.
The first SVRCS Senior Social took place in January, and was well received by the community. Since then, there have been two more, and two are yet to come this school year.
Organizer of the events, SVRCS Community Liason Dawn Jeffries, says the Senior Socials are important to her, not only as a member of the charter school staff, but also on a personal level.
"My heart lies with the whole community, but elderly and especially students with special 'abilities' have been my passion and lifelong career for over 23 years. I worked with some of these same families and students as preschoolers, and it makes my heart happy to see them as high schoolers successfully navigating and excelling in their educational career," said Jeffries.
In an always busy world the older generation and the school-age population don't always get to spend time together. This is something she wanted to fix.
"I came up with this idea before I was actually hired for my position at the school," Jeffries explained. "It has just taken awhile to see it come to fruition."
"I first met with the SVRCS Support Service Director, Carrie Nixon, back in the fall to see if this could happen, and then eventually began working with Learning Support teachers Kaylin Smith and Justine Shady for the monthly event," she recalled.
"I understand the need to bridge the gap between these students and the seniors as well as all students and our seniors," Jeffries continued. "In our diverse culture, family units are not physically as close in location as before, and many of our families do not see their grandparents and/or grandchildren, and they thrive on seeing our students, and therefore form relationships."
Life Skill students go all out for the Senior Socials. They cook food, put together snack bags, make party favors and design games, in preparation of the special afternoons.
For February there were homemade meatballs, and a veggie tray with dip to snack on. Kids and guests decorated cookies together, slathering the heart shaped pastries with vanilla icing, spilling sprinkles over each one as they laughed at their creations.
For March, the Senior Social was decked out with shamrocks, and the kids made Bingo boards for game time. Guests were surprised with a special treat when SVRCS Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, Broc Phillips, pulled out his guitar and played songs of yesteryear, encouraging everyone to sing along.
"I love that our Life Skills students get to interact with the senior citizens in our community," said Life Skills and Learning Support teacher, Justine Shady. "It is a great opportunity for them to practice their social skills."
"Both the students and the senior citizens seem to really enjoy playing games like tic-tac-toe together," she continued. "We are able to incorporate math, science and art as we shop for, and prepare the snacks and decorations. The students are proud of their hard work."
Her colleague, fellow Life Skills teacher, Kaylin Peters, agreed.
"Our Senior Social is a great opportunity for our students to interact with the seniors within the community," she said. "Through these events, students are able to learn organizational, planning, appropriate communication skills and make various decorations each month. They plan, prepare and serve all of the food. Some months they are able to make grocery lists and shop for the things we need. The students have enjoyed these events and look forward to building relationships with the community members."
Jeffries finished by emphasizing what these afternoons are really about.
"The important reason for the Socials is simply to allow the seniors of our community a safe space to gather for socialization, fellowship and an enjoyable afternoon," she said.
The hard work between departments and students was evident, and the love of community apparent. Around the room smiles could be seen, and giggles heard, as new friendships were formed between the ages.
The next SVRCS Senior Social is on Friday, April 14. The school season finale of the event will be held on May 12.
Senior Socials are always from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and take place in the foyer of the gymnasium.
The Sugar Valley Rural Charter School is located at 236 E. Main St., Loganton, Pa.
For more information on the Senior Socials, call Jeffires at 570-367-1351 or email djeffries@svrcs.org.