Green Acres Elementary School second-grade teacher Emily Houghton, right, assists Tanna Gordon and Nadia Kedzor with Christmas greeting cards for local senior citizens.
By: Maria Allard | Warren Weekly | Published December 13, 2024
WARREN — Students at Green Acres Elementary School played Santa Claus this Christmas season.
With their teacher’s assistance, the students made holiday cards for senior citizens who reside at local senior living communities. Green Acres is part of the Warren Consolidated Schools district.
On the morning of Dec. 9, Emily Houghton’s second-grade students got into the Christmas spirit writing messages on the cards, drawing pictures and adding stickers. The cards — with preprinted notations — contained various designs, including winter landscapes, wreaths, nativity scenes, bears, poinsettias, Christmas stockings and Santa Claus.
The students added their own personal touches by penning several messages Houghton and student teacher Kathryn Missocomen suggested, including, “Wishing you smiles and lots of sweet thoughts,” and, “Wishing a wonderful day to a wonderful person.” Some students even signed their first names.
“We’re using our nicest second-grade handwriting,” Houghton reminded the students. “We want the seniors to be able to read them. I want to see you do your personal best.”
The idea for the project came from the school’s Parent Teacher Organization when Vice President Denise Marogi-Zaid came across bundles of Christmas cards at a garage sale this past summer.
“It’s good to have everyone involved. I feel this is a good project because some in nursing homes don’t get visitors. I want (the students) to learn what it is to do things for people who need help. The holidays can be a depressing time for many people. A card could make such a difference in someone’s life,” Marogi-Zaid said. “We’ve got such a great school. We got a great staff and we got into the Christmas holiday spirit.”
Marogi-Zaid planned to deliver the cards the week of Dec. 16. The other PTO board officers are Beth Haberski, Alexis Badgley, Susan Howard-Brown, Julie Brown and Kendra Brown.
Residents living at the following four Warren senior living communities will receive cards: American House Park Place, 29250 Heritage Pkwy; St. Anthony Healthcare Center, 31830 Ryan Road; Stilwell Manor, 26600 Burg Road; and Villa at City Center, 11700 E. 10 Mile Road.
The first-grade students in Alviena Daryiosh’s class have become pros at writing notes to senior citizens. Earlier in the school year, Daryiosh began a weekly lesson in which the students send cards to St. Anthony Healthcare Center.
“They don’t get out much socially with the outside world. It was just a way to give back,” Daryiosh said. “I like to do things that kind of hit home.”
The class participated in the Christmas card project.
“We drew reindeer because it’s kind of like Christmas. We had to match the colors. I like matching colors,” said Alina Candeleria-Shepherd, who added that drawing is like “exercising my hands.”
Last month the students wished the senior residents a Happy Thanksgiving. The homemade cards featured turkey drawings they learned how to design from an art lesson in class. Students made other pictures they think the seniors would like or maybe did at one time. Akif Uddin, for example, drew a picture of a race car because maybe one of the residents “were a mechanic or something.”
“We try to be creative,” Uddin said. “We want to be nice to them. People will be nice back to you.”
Dallas Woods remembers the time her grandfather recuperated in a nursing home. She visited him with other family members. She said he’s now home and much better.
Woods said she felt “happy” and “excited” to create cards for the seniors.