The halls of the Arborg Assisted Living Facility were filled with love, music and laughter on Oct. 9 during afternoon tea time. Residents enjoyed a special visit from the Arborg Early Middle School (AEMS) kindergarten class ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend.
Students made colourful handprint turkeys with the message: “The turkey handprint is a work of art — a symbol of all the love in my heart. Each feather a reminder of all we share. Thanksgiving is a time to show we care.” The artworks are now displayed near the dining room at Arborg Assisted Living
“It was such a great way to brighten up the seniors’ days,” said Maureen Sigurgeirson, Arborg Assisted Living property manager. “It’s the perfect way to put a smile on their faces — these activities mean so much to them.”
Each kindergarten student introduced themselves to the seniors before performing a selection of songs and poems they had been practising during morning circle time. The children also created colourful handprint turkeys for the residents to enjoy, which are now displayed near the dining room.
Amber Semenek, the kindergarten teacher, said intergenerational connections like these are important.
“Our visit was beneficial for our young students,” she said. “They got to see how small acts of kindness can impact others. They felt like important guests and also had a chance to practise singing and speaking in front of an audience. The residents and staff of Arborg Assisted Living were so appreciative that afterward several children told me they felt happy inside.”
Sigurgeirson hopes other classes in the community will arrange visits, noting that seniors love spending time with younger generations. She invites any classroom teacher interested in an outing to contact the centre at 204-376-3494.
Semenek’s class is already planning a second visit in early December to highlight the importance of connecting with others.
“I want the children to feel connected to their community, to see the impact of being kind, and to know that they have the power to positively impact others even though they are so young,” she added. “Our class looks forward to many more visits this school year.”
