Before getting to know someone, you have to meet them, and once you do, you just might fall in love with them.  

That's what a group of grade four students from Heron's Crossing School in Airdrie learned when they started what's become a growing relationship with the seniors from the Bethany Care Centre in Airdrie.

Yesterday (March 21) some of the students and their teacher Kimberley Lee were presented with an Exemplary Practice certificate during a Student Showcase at the regular meeting of the Rocky View School Board of Trustees.

How it all started was Lee's idea following the death of her grandmother.  "It was a very tragic time in my life," Lee says.  "My grandmother really loved Christmas and I thought it would be nice to honour her by sharing in a Christmas concert with my class for the upcoming Christmas season."

Lee also realized that many seniors living in care facilities often feel a sense of loneliness, particularly during the holiday season.  

In December 2018 Lee and her students went to the care centre and put on the concert of Christmas songs.  However, they added much more to it.

"We also brought gifts and cards and cookies and hot chocolate for the seniors, but while we were there we formed real connections with many of the seniors.  When they (the students) came back from holiday break they expressed an interest in continuing on with these friendships so we've started a penpal program with Bethany Care.  The students wrote friendly letters, drew pictures of themselves and asked the seniors lots and lots of questions.  Those letters now are being used as part of a cognitive therapy program for seniors with advanced dementia.  We're just waiting for our responses to come back to the school but the seniors are busy writing our students back."

The Recreation Coordinator at Bethany recognized the growing relationship between the two groups and has taken it one step further says Lee.  "We were asked by the Recreation Coordinator to be a part of Senior's Week.  On either June 3rd or June 5th, we'll be performing at the Town and Country Centre for Senior's Week for their special luncheon and we're only one of three acts that have been asked to perform that day."

One of the students who attended yesterday's RVS ceremony was asked about attending the Christmas concert and what the seniors got out of it.  Gabby expressed herself eloquently when she said, "I think that for them it was kind of like it was darkness and when we came it was kind of like a light shining, and there was something to be happy about."

And of course, when you're performing at a Christmas concert, you should sing some of your favourites.  So what were Cole's, Emersyn's, Kallie's and Gabby's favourites?  "Christmas In Killarney, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, and We Wish You A Merry Christmas."   All fine choices, for seniors, and for their grade four friends.  

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