12/29/2006
Young readers show they care - Oak Haven kids share holiday with seniors
John H. Gendron , Daily Times

COVENTRY - Before the Christmas school holiday began, staying true to the holiday spirit of giving, students of Oak Haven School brought residents of the Summer Villa assisted living home a gift.
Seventeen fourth- and fifth-grade students walked from their school to the nearby home carrying Christmas cards, homemade ornaments, and candy canes. At the home, the students sang for the residents and read them a variety of holiday staples.

Debbie Hakanson, behavior specialist at Oak Haven, said the school has been doing this ever since she began working there.


"Well, I've been here for four years now, so we've been doing it at least that long," said Hakanson. "We've started this tradition and have had wonderful feedback. Every holiday, we always go down there."


Hakanson said the students left the school on foot early in the school day and were back at school just in time for lunch.


"We left the school around 10, and the whole thing took about an hour and a half," said Hakanson. "Once the students arrived at the nursing home, they went room to room bringing (the residents) their presents."


According to Hakanson, while only fourth and fifth graders were allowed to go on the field trip, the younger students weren't completely deprived of participation.


"They made ornaments in the shape of candy canes," she said. "We try to make it a whole school effort every time we go down there but the fourth and fifth graders were the only ones to deliver the presents and sing Christmas carols."


Residents at Summer Villa were also privileged to hear an exclusive reading of "The Polar Express" by one fifth grader in particular - Soleil Kurowski.


"She is so delightful," said Hakanson. "She read the whole book without a problem. We were all in the cafeteria, and there must have been about 25 residents in there listening to her as she read. I was very proud of her. She didn't falter at all. She was just so cute."


"We try and encourage all of our kids to do as many good deeds as possible," added Hakanson.


Hakanson said funds for all supplies to provide this program come from teachers' pockets or the school's budget.


"I'll pick up some stuff here and there, or the school's budget will pick up some stuff, or the kids will just use the supplies we have at the school," she said. "We don't have much of a budget, but we try to work with what we have and make something nice out of it. It's more about the companionship part than bringing the presents."


Hakanson said, when the kids show up, the residents of the Summer Villa are more than happy to see them.


"They welcome us with open arms," she said. "They love it when the kids come down there, they look forward to it. A lot of them don't have visitors, so this is the highlight of their day when the kids come down."


And according to Hakanson, "the kids love it just as much."


Among those taking part in the visit, according to Hakanson, were Soleil Kurowski, Brittany Farrell, Kerianne Levesque, Katelynn Stalahoin, Savanna Clark, Alexa Armonte, Olivia Harris, Elizabeth Castelli, Hayley Williams, Christina Noonan, Katelyn Johnson, Heather Blalock, Chelsea Shea, Heather Doherty, Shelby Potter, Madison Whitaker and Gabrielle.


"They love it too," she said. "They can't wait. As soon as I say we're going to Summer Villa at such-and-such a date, I have so many kids coming up to me asking if they can come. It's just something we all enjoy."