Mrs. Kryger’s class has the best traditions, and one of them is the very special relationship her students make with the senior friends! This year, her students once again embark on a journey outside the four walls of the classroom to connect with a different generation friends in a profound and meaningful way.
Throughout the academic year, the class engages in a myriad of activities with their senior counterparts. From spirited game days on the assisted living campus, to skill-sharing sessions on football tactics to crafting greeting cards, the students get to connect their interests with the interests of people that seem really different from them–and discover they have so, so much in common.
However, the pinnacle of this learning experience lies in the art of storytelling. Armed with curiosity and empathy, students interview their senior friends over the course of the year, unraveling tales of their history, challenges, and cherished memories. These narratives serve as the foundation for the students’ heartfelt end-of-year project: crafting mini biographies for each of their senior friends.
Today, as the academic year comes to a close, Mrs. Kryger’s classroom is full of gratitude and reflection. Students pour their appreciation into handwritten thank-you notes. It’s beautiful to read about the profound impact their senior friends have had on their lives.
Many of the senior friends initially hesitated to participate, doubting the significance of their own stories. Through the lens of youth, the seniors’ experiences are not just stories; they are lived history, true tales of God’s goodness and faithfulness, and sources of inspiration.
This week, the students get the opportunity to hand-deliver their tokens of appreciation and the biographies. What a blessing to be able to foster these intergenerational relationships that build one another up!
Or, in the words of one student, echoing the way Mrs. Kurosu’s Monday morning devotionals always end, “Be blessed, and be a blessing.”