Students learn to be all heart

Grant used to reach out to seniors

By:Sally Goldenberg
   Angela Gall had 18 valentines this year.
   The 84-year-old resident of the Raritan Health and Extended Care Center on Route 28 was surprised to find 18 kindergarten students from the Weston Elementary School in her room last Thursday morning, armed with handmade, heart-shaped cards.
   "That was a great pleasure for me to see the kids. A valentine that they had presented to me was very sweet," Ms. Gall said.
   The kindergarten students made their second trip to the nursing home this school year through an $800 grant.
   The grant, courtesy of Somerset County United Way, is given to schools for community activities that highlight state character education requirements. Schools can receive up to $1,000 for the Partnering Education and Community Enrichment grants.
   "Our goal is help prepare our county’s youth to become caring and productive adults," said Somerset County United Way President Allen Reese.
   The organization recently doled out $25,996 in PEACE grants to local school districts.
   Kindergarten teacher Madeleine Perry said she hopes her students will develop a sense of self-worth through visiting the nursing home.
   "This really got them to realize that even at 5 years old, you have gifts you can share with other people," she said.
   The students performed a rendition of "Three Little Pigs" for the senior citizens.
   They also distributed handmade Valentine’s Day cards inserted in plaster blocks designed with floral drawings.
   Residents at the center, who encountered Ms. Perry’s students during a visit in December, are usually alone on Valentine’s Day, said Recreation Director Andrea Webb.
   "Valentine’s Day is not a big to-do," Ms. Webb said. "We don’t get a lot of family members, so when the schools come handing out the handmade hearts, it’s really nice."
   Holly Jean Dunbar, UW director of communications, said schools must incorporate the state-mandated cross-content workplace readiness standards and pillars of character education in order to receive the grants. In addition, she added, grant recipients must participate in a community service project.
   "In this way, we hope to instill in young people a greater sense of community and the importance of helping others," Mr. Reese said.
   Ms. Perry echoed that sentiment.
   "I’m trying to encourage them to come on their own," she said. "I hope it’s something that will grow from our school."