Inspired by the recent ABC series “Old People’s Home for 4 year olds’, and as part of our plans each year to include a service activity for Year 7 incorporating both the Pastoral Care and FUSE curriculum focuses, we have been able to organise to spend some time across the road at Glasshouse Views Aged Care and Retirement Village.
We have arranged for the Year 7s to visit the village on Friday mornings in the next few weeks, and Year 7W began the visits last Friday, although with a fair amount of apprehension. Old people can be very scary apparently!
However, after joining in on simple ball/balloon catching games for exercise, the students realised elderly people aren’t so daunting and they quickly warmed up to engage in chatting with the residents. A number of our students performed various musical items which the residents absolutely loved, and they gave ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ of delight as Maddie and Mackenzie danced for them.
The students were then reluctant to leave and get back to school, even for morning tea! I was so proud of 7W’s caring, thoughtful and friendly manner. It will be the other PC classes’ turn in the coming weeks and I’m sure that they will really enjoy spending time with the elderly residents. And if you haven’t seen the ABC show on ABC iView, I highly recommend it.
Tania Calais, Year 7 Coordinator
