Building Bridges with senior citizens. (Cumberland School District).The Civic Star Award in Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. goes to the Cumberland School District for a program at North Cumberland Middle School that has given students and the community's senior citizens an opportunity to participate in meaningful activities with each other. The program, called Building Bridges, brings senior citizens to the school to teach such activities as chess, calligraphy calligraphy (kəlĭg`rəfē) [Gr.,=beautiful writing], skilled penmanship practiced as a fine art. See also inscription; paleography. European Calligraphy In Europe two sorts of handwriting came into being very early. , painting, cooking, photography and candy making after school. The school, students' families, Parent Teacher Organization and local Senior Center are all involved in the partnership that has made the program possible. The idea for Building Bridges was conceived by Carolyn Murphy, the middle school's principal, who was concerned about students going home to empty houses after school. She was also concerned about senior citizens, such as her mother, who might benefit from interaction with middle school students. Murphy took her idea to the PTO PTO abbr. 1. Parent Teacher Organization 2. or p.t.o. please turn over 3. power takeoff PTO or pto please turn over Noun 1. , and parent Cheryl Powers contacted the director of the Senior Center, Lori Gagnon, who liked the idea and got the community's senior citizens involved. The program started with seniors teaching students to play chess and expanded from there. Murphy believes the students appreciate the wisdom, humor humor, according to ancient theory, any of four bodily fluids that determined man's health and temperament. Hippocrates postulated that an imbalance among the humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile) resulted in pain and disease, and that good health was and caring of the seniors and that the seniors enjoy spending time "Spending Time" is the first single released by Christian artist Stellar Kart. The lyrics describe the band members desire to spend "more time with God". "Sometimes it’s a real struggle to spend time with God. with the children. The program promotes understanding, respect, education and the benefits of having fun. The majority of students who participate in Building Bridges do not belong to any other school clubs, and the program is particularly important to students who do not have the money or transportation to attend private classes after school. School buses provide transportation home, and the cost is minimal and can be covered by the school for needy need·y adj. need·i·er, need·i·est 1. Being in need; impoverished. See Synonyms at poor. 2. Wanting or needing affection, attention, or reassurance, especially to an excessive degree. families. One measure of the program's success is the number of students participating--approximately 18 percent of those who would normally go home. Satisfaction among senior citizens is evident in the fact that they keep returning to school. Parents and teachers have said they support the enrichment enrichment Food industry The addition of vitamins or minerals to a food–eg, wheat, which may have been lost during processing. See White flour; Cf Whole grains. activities and appreciate the attention their children receive in a school setting. TO LEARN MORE CONTACT: Joseph M. Nasif Jr., Superintendent Cumberland School District 2602 Mendon Road Cumberland, RI 02864 Phone: 401-658-1600 x8 E-mail: CUHSOO91@ride.ri.net Web: Site under construction |
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