CDS Students Bring Joy to Seniors
On December 18, Mme Colucci and Ms. Steadman travelled with 17 students to CHATS (Community & Home Assistance to Seniors) in Richmond Hill, which they had also visited during Breakout Week.
The students were divided into three groups and asked to organize different activities for the seniors. Emily Chang, Sydney Young, Claire Johnson, Breanna Lin, Blake Helkie and Zaina Haile ran the first activity – which was Bingo. They played different combinations and handed out prizes to each winner. The prizes Blake bought for Bingo were a big hit. As you looked across the room, you could see our students interacting effortlessly with the seniors.
The next activity was a holiday cheer sing-a-long led by Claire Johnson, Abi Jull, Sascha Loew, and Sarah Sutherland-Pace, with Allyson Whitmell on the keyboard. We created a song book that had a variety of classic and popular holiday music, but also took requests from the seniors. The girls embodied the holiday spirit as they sang each song with lots of enthusiasm, energy and joy.
We finished the day with chair aerobics. Bella Sun, Erica Campagna, Paula Litwin-Logan, Ayanna Kara and Megan Johnson organized a fitness routine that the seniors could complete while sitting in a chair. The seniors thoroughly enjoyed their exercise class, as well as the opportunity to interact with the girls. Although the last song, the “chicken dance”, was not on Erica’s playlist, she gladly found it for them. It turns out that this is one of the seniors’ favourite songs to groove to.
We would like to thank the girls for giving up their time in order to bring joy to individuals who in some cases rarely get a chance to interact with young people. It was evident by the smiles on the faces and the goodbye hugs that in just a few hours these girls left a lasting impression on this wonderful group. Sometimes the gift of time is the most precious gift of all!
Back
The next activity was a holiday cheer sing-a-long led by Claire Johnson, Abi Jull, Sascha Loew, and Sarah Sutherland-Pace, with Allyson Whitmell on the keyboard. We created a song book that had a variety of classic and popular holiday music, but also took requests from the seniors. The girls embodied the holiday spirit as they sang each song with lots of enthusiasm, energy and joy.
We finished the day with chair aerobics. Bella Sun, Erica Campagna, Paula Litwin-Logan, Ayanna Kara and Megan Johnson organized a fitness routine that the seniors could complete while sitting in a chair. The seniors thoroughly enjoyed their exercise class, as well as the opportunity to interact with the girls. Although the last song, the “chicken dance”, was not on Erica’s playlist, she gladly found it for them. It turns out that this is one of the seniors’ favourite songs to groove to.
We would like to thank the girls for giving up their time in order to bring joy to individuals who in some cases rarely get a chance to interact with young people. It was evident by the smiles on the faces and the goodbye hugs that in just a few hours these girls left a lasting impression on this wonderful group. Sometimes the gift of time is the most precious gift of all!
Have a wonderful holiday season!
Ms. Steadman & Mme Colucci
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
