Grey hair and wheelchairs are usually rare sights at elementary schools but one St. Albert school has made them a regular fixture.
Since last fall, Vital Grandin school has been hosting a delegation of seniors from Youville Home about every second Tuesday. Called Reading Buddies, the program involves students practicing their reading skills to visiting seniors. Grade 2 teacher Diana Groten organized the program thinking it would be a good way for her students to practice reading aloud while also providing seniors with an outing.
“There’s a nice connection between the kids and the seniors,” Groten said. “I think that’s even more important than the reading part.”
The program has become a highlight for both groups of participants, which includes Groten’s 92-year-old mother, who is a Youville resident.
“She’s ready to go every day. They have to send her back to her room because she just enjoys coming so much,” Groten said.
A number of the students also have parents who work at Youville.
Another motivation for beginning the program was the school’s theme of doing good works, which it adopted for this school year, she said.
“It’s one way to connect with people who may not have many visitors and it helps us too, because we get to read,” she said.
Usually about five to nine seniors make the cross-town trip on Youville’s activity bus. Grade 6 students meet the bus and help wheel residents into the Grade 2 classes where the seniors spread out among the children, who take turns reading to them either singly or in groups.
The kids are learning that friends can be young or old, Groten said.
“It’s important for us to cross the age barriers and connect,” she said. “I think it’s worked really well on both sides.”
The kids get really excited when they know the residents are coming, said Grade 2 teacher Teresa Byer.
“Some of them don’t have grandparents that live in St. Albert so it’s really great for them to connect with someone from that age group,” she said.
Recreation attendant Don Noon, who drives the Youville bus to the school, said the seniors really look forward to the outing as well.
“Usually there’s too many that want to come. I can’t fit them all on the bus,” Noon said.
“It makes their day. When we’re going back they’re all smiles and they’re giggling about things the kids said and did. It really picks up their spirits.”
“To me it was a gift because I taught for so many years,” said Youville resident Stella Rachinski, 85, who taught for more than 20 years during her working life.
Student Kail Page said he gets excited when it’s Reading Buddy day.
“They’re so joyful to be with and they always do good comments about you,” said the eight-year-old.
