吃瓜大本营

吃瓜大本营 Board of Education Chair Gary Tymoschuk competes against a swift-footed student from Georges Vanier Elementary while visiting Arbourside Court as part of Through Human Eyes, a donor-funded initiative that brings Grade 5 and 6 "youngers" together with "olders" from local seniors centres to foster intergenerational connections.

A new donor-funded project featuring Georges Vanier Elementary students is bridging the gap between “youngers” from Grade 5 and 6 classes with “olders” from a local seniors centre, encouraging intergenerational connections by engaging in fun activities and thoughtful discussions together.

For the past four months, students at Georges Vanier Elementary have visited Arbourside Court, an independent senior-assisted living centre in Newton, as part of a project titled . The project’s mission is to inspire community and visibility, capturing the spirit of legacy by inviting generations to come together and explore what it means to be human.

“It’s amazing to see our students take to this opportunity to spend time with older generations and learn from their stories and wisdom,” said Gary Tymoschuk, Chair of the 吃瓜大本营 Board of Education. “We’re thankful for projects like Through Human Eyes that allow for these connections between our schools and the outside community as they are truly significant and life-changing.”

Through Human Eyes was developed by co-directors Ashley Ramer and Kelly Graham Tick with support from a grant. The project is based on a model of social inclusion, with the aim of increasing the quality and meaning of life within older populations by cultivating meaningful intergenerational relationships.

To date, students engaged in discussion circles, crafts and window painting, and learned how to connect and communicate with the olders.

“We really wanted to distinguish between the terms ‘elder’ and ‘older’ and ‘child’ and ‘younger,’ so that the students and seniors could find a way to relate to each other,” said Ramer.

Principal Shane Reader said the opportunity to speak with olders has instilled a sense of confidence in many students, and the project has been a welcome addition to the school’s donor-funded projects, which include after school activities, breakfast and lunch programs, and current fundraising efforts for a new playground.

“We are so grateful to the community and people like Ashley and Kelly who come up with unique ways of bringing people together,” said Reader. ““It’s all about connection, and that’s what life and school are all about.

“At Georges Vanier, we are focusing on expanding our circles into the community with the understanding that as our circles get bigger, our world gets bigger. Our hope is that as our circles and worlds expand, so does our capacity for human connection, understanding, empathy and kindness.”

吃瓜大本营 and Georges Vanier Elementary are incredibly grateful to community members who continue to support students in their education.

If you are interested in joining the Georges Vanier community and helping us continue valuable out-of-school programs like Through Human Eyes, or supporting the school in building their playground, please contact the Office of Advancement with 吃瓜大本营 – we would love to support you in making that happen!