Riverside Intermediate 5th and 6th graders have formed a partnership with residents of Miller’s Assisted Living Facility for the 2017-2018 school year. This partnership will allow students to make connections with adults, learn the art of conversation, promote empathy, take learning beyond the classroom and much more.
According to Riverside Assistant Principal Ryan Welch there are many students who for a variety of reasons struggle to make connections with adults in their families.
“Some students simply may not have grandparents or great-grandparents in the area or at all,” stated Welch. “There are students in our community who may have never been outside Marshall County and have not had an opportunity to see other places. This partnership will allow our students to have experiences through other people.”
The partnership got off to a grand start on Wednesday afternoon, August 23rd as 60 sixth graders named the Riverside STARS arrived at Miller’s Assisted Living. The chaperones, Asst. Principal Welch, Ms. Jordan Kubasysk and Mr. Wade Mattis seemed to enjoy the experience as much as the students.
Three – five students were paired with one resident. Each group found a place where they could sit and talk and get to know each other. Some students read excerpts from library books which then generated conversation. Others asked questions of their resident and shared information about their daily life in and out of school.
Miller’s Activity Director Cindy Flagg heard only one complaint at the end of the day and that was the fact that the residents felt they just didn’t have enough time with the students! The Riverside Partnership will continue in September when the Riverside COMETS visits Miller’s.
Photo: Students from the Riverside STARS listen intently as Henry Butler of Miller’s Assisted Living tells of his days playing on the basketball team.
