BY PENNY LEUTHARD, STAFF WRITER
For the past seven years, fourth graders at Clearview Elementary School have been visiting St. Benedict’s Senior Center and Talahi Care Center twice a month to visit and build relationships with the residents. Recently some of those residents changed things up and came to visit the students at their school instead.
Two years ago, one of the residents in the program decided it would be fun to meet with the students in their own environment, and a visit to the school was planned. This was the second trip residents have made to Clearview.
“All year the students get to come into the residents’ home,” said Hillary Studenski, recreation coordinator at St. Benedict’s. “It’s nice for the residents to now get to see the school they work with.”
“It makes us happy when they visit,” said resident Bonnie Majeski. “Kids are fun and energetic. They read to us, play games and do artwork.”
Resident June Lardy’s five grandchildren attended Clearview when they were young, and their mom works in the school’s kitchen.
“During our visit today we toured the building,” she said. “We saw the art room, library and gym and went outside. It’s nice seeing the students and having them read to us. They like to come.”
Resident Vonnie Bangtson taught elementary school children for 37 years, so visiting Clearview was almost like a homecoming for her. In Hopkins, she was involved in the reading programs, and she was a reading specialist in Germany for a year.
“I love all ages of children, especially kindergarten through sixth grade,” she said.
“I have lots of great-grandparents in a nursing home and I like visiting them,” said fourth-grader John P., who participated in the program this year. “You can have a better relationship.”
“It’s a great experience to learn to interact with the residents and learn what life was like when they were kids,” said student Grace J. “We read books, make crafts, play board games and talk.”
The care center visit program is grant supported and incorporates all the fourth-grade classrooms. Each small group of students is paired up with a resident who they visit for the entire year.
“When you see the growth from the beginning of the school year, when the students are a bit hesitant, to now when they come in full of excitement, it’s so amazing.” said Studenski. “It’s such a great partnership, it’s a gift.”
