Senior Citizen Social a ‘smashing success’

FARMINGTON – Those Mt. Blue Middle School Students are at it again.

We’ve seen them at countless social events, but this one was a bit different. This time their dancing partners were slightly older. Some used walkers, some bogeyed on the floor in wheelchairs, but none left without having experienced the energy and enthusiasm this particular group of eighth grade students possesses.

The evening began after much pre-planning on the part of teacher Maureen Oswald’s “Elderly Philanthropy Group,” one of five groups developed by Katahdin Community teachers at Mt. Blue Middle School.

“Philanthropy” groups were formed last year by this community of teachers as a way to show their students how much they have to offer in the world, to give them a strong sense of self and to help create life-long learners with community spirit. Other groups include the less fortunate, soldiers, the environment and the animal shelter.

“Our teachers want us to learn more than the core subjects,” student Courtney Austin said. “They have shown us that sometimes when we give of our time to other people or causes, it really makes a difference. It feels right.”

Austin was also a key player in “Help for Haiti” this year at the middle school, which raised $2,000 for the distraught country after their earthquake. “This is the type of thing we will remember long after middle school.”

While meeting with her elderly philanthropy group, Oswald noted that this group thinks big. They would not be satisfied unless their cause culminated with a big splash. Thus came the idea for a community-wide social event geared toward the interests of senior citizens. Phone calls were made. Posters created, newspapers advertised, tickets were designed and distributed, the gears were set in motion. Brainstorming included a dance, games, laptop demonstrations, and music. Students and staff baked and baked. WalMart provided a donation. Everything was to be free for the seniors. So the kids fundraised. A bottle drive here, a yard sale there, and a group collecting donations.

“We had meetings during our recesses. None of our class time was used for this at all,” student Joe King said.

And then came the night. With the cafeteria slightly transformed into an era of the 1950s or ’60s, DJs Richard and Tracey Pease donated their time and Johnny Cash boomed over the crowd. The cribbage boards and Scrabble games the MBMS staff had lent for the night came out. BINGO was called. The students greeted their new friends from Edgewood Manor, Sandy River Rehab and the county in general. Retired teachers, past librarians, an ex-Marine – all shared their stories with each other and the teens, who countered with stories of their own.

“I taught my new friend Susie Carleton my favorite quote, ‘Those who don’t learn from the past are condemned to repeat it,’ and she loved it,” laughed student Sarita Crandall. “She kept trying to recite it so it would stick, and we kept practicing it together.”

When the seniors first began arriving, Oswald noted that the students hung back, nervously wondering how to interact.

“Their initial response was pretty typical,” she said. “Most of them are not used to this, and I knew it would take a little while. The turning point was one of those really special moments when I looked over and saw one of my boys, Joe, slow dancing with an elderly nursing home resident. She was beaming from ear to ear. And that was it. Clapping, more interacting and we were off and running.”

The rest of the evening boasted a full dance floor where the teens demonstrated and taught the Electric Slide, Cotton Eyed Joe and the Cupid Shuffle. The excitement was contagious as many joined in. The fun was palpable.

The social event was a perfectly timed two hours long, and it was noted that not one person left until the announcement was made that a wonderful evening had concluded. As a final gesture each guest was given a party favor generously donated by Patty Flagg. But “final” may be getting ahead of this group, as they already have plans to invite their new friends to their upcoming semi-formal on May 15th.

“They’re our friends now,” student Kiana Thompson said. “They should be there.”

MBMS students attending this event included: Rileigh Blanchet, Amanda Moody, Emily Knowles, Jenna Presby, Courtney Phelps, Brooklynn Pease, Joe King, Mikayla Oswald, Courtney Austin, Amber Cusson, Sarita Crandall, Kiana Thompson, Lucy Celon, Lisa Couture, Kelly Couture, Emmye Senecal. Helping to plan but unable to attend were Nate Backus and Brad Dwinal.