Second Grade Students Form Special Bond With Residents In Senior Community

It starts as the typical day in class for Mrs. West second graders at Red Oak elementary school in Moore, but this is one of those days the students get really excited about.

“They will tell me, this was my favorite day of second grade,” said Christi West, second grade teacher at Red Oak elementary school.

It’s a field trip of sorts, but not to an amusement park or playground.

“I can tell you that this has been the most rewarding experience as a teacher,” said West.

“It’s a track through the park, leading the students here, to the Village in the Park Senior Living Community to spend precious time with their extra special friends.

“We do a lot of special things here for our residents, but this has been one of the most special heart-warming things that we have ever done,” said executive director of Village on the Park, Karen Proctor.

Students spend time reading to their friends and catching up on life.

“I like it when we just talk together about our lives and I just think that she is a really nice friend,” said second grade student Makaiya.

“The children remember their special friend, and they look for them and our residents look for their special friend, and they have really made this really special friendship,” said Proctor.

Students presented a special serenade for their friends, complete with kazoos, that brought nothing but smiles to the residents.

“My students, many of them are not from this country, so they don’t have their grandparents here,” said West.

The students talked so much about their friends that the parents made a point to come meet them.

“When I introduced them to his special friend the parents got really teary,” said Proctor.  

A bond not easily broken even with summer break just around the corner.

“They’ve already asked if they can come see him this summer sometimes,” said Proctor.

Turning friendships into family.

“Feels like she’s just a part of my family,” said Makaiya.