Grade six classes at Similkameen Elementary Secondary School make their way across town two to three Mondays each month to interact with seniors residing in Orchard Haven at the South Similkameen Health Centre.
The students engage in cards, colouring and other activities with the seniors.
This week a Halloween theme was the order of the day as pumpkin carving was on the agenda. The gourds were generously donated, coming from Bears, Parsons and Harkers Fruit Stands.
“The students are really starting to connect with their buddies after our first few visits,” SESS grade six teacher Celia Brouwer said of the student-retiree relationship, “the activities and quality time spent together is a really nice way to bridge the generations.”
It appeared that Orchard Haven residents and the students had no problems getting along with each other. The pumpkin carving was good practise for the students, who all seemed to enjoy carving, digging and spooning out the icky insides of the pumpkins.