Bridging the generation gap

By Stephanie Harris Smith, 11/16/19 9:20 PM

The Sixth Grade students at the Hope Academy of Public Service, HAPS, a non-traditional style school for fifth through eighth grade students, attempted to “bridge the generation gap” by hosting a dance for senior citizensFriday night at the Hope Fair Park Coliseum

Joan Crowder, a HAPS employee said the students were excited about the project and some were a little apprehensive.

Crowder said this was a learning experience for the group so anything that didn’t work can be tried another way next go round

The idea stemmed from a conversation about new things the students could do for senior citizens. 

“ I think it’s a good idea for the elderly to get out and to interact with the students,” Sixth grader Grace Easterling said about the event. Iva Davis, a senior citizen who attended the dance said she thought the event was “good for the kids” so both parties were in agreement that it would benefit both sides.

“ This is a learning experience for everyone,” Deanna Allen , of Kindred Home Health said.

Davis said she thought there should be veterans in attendance. Maybe next year the students will send a special invitation to the veterans as well. 

Hope Fair Park, Kindred Home Health, and Hope Haven made the collaborative efforts it took to plan the event with the HAPS students. 

Easterling also commented on how she felt about her school.

“ It is a good school. The students really want to interact with the community,” she said. Which is exactly what they did. Some seniors in attendance simply enjoyed watching the sixth graders dance and amuse themselves. Some of the students involved had also helped with the recent health fair, according to Crowder. Brady also commented on the dance, “ I am glad to see this happen. I hope more seniors see and hear about it and more come next year.” Davis also said she hopes the students will continue to have the dance. Davis said VFW dances in the past had been attended by hundreds of people. HAPS Facilitator Jackie Brady said the students next big project will be their black history month celebration.