If you happened to be at the Council on Aging on a recent Wednesday, you might have done a double take as you walked by the gym.
On one side, a dozen or so teenagers were playing a lively game of chair volleyball with senior citizens, smacking a beach ball back and forth over the net. On the other side of the gym were several more teens dancing in a Zumba class with seniors.
“It’s awesome,” COA regular Judith Rotiroti said about having the younger dancers in class. “They add a youthful energy. I had chills most of the class.”
Her friend Maggie Smith added, “We need that young blood here.”
Frances Amato chimed in, “They couldn’t keep up with us, though!”
About 24 Marblehead High students, part of the Students & Seniors Club, visit the COA twice a month to play games, dance and scrapbook with seniors.
“The kids infuse a lot of energy here, plus it gives them an appreciation of the aging process,” COA Program Director Janice Beal said. “They don’t realize that most seniors are very active and ready to laugh.”
The project started with MHS sophomores Sydney Berman, Sadie Halpern and Maren Rowe, who wanted to create a scrapbooking club. Their faculty advisor, MHS English teacher Jenn Billings, suggested they include seniors at the COA. And it grew from there.
“This is a great way for students to learn about the COA,” said Rowe.
Halpern added, “Yeah, most kids thought all the people here were in wheelchairs.”
Some students especially enjoy scrapbooking with the seniors and hearing stories about their lives.
“It’s a dream to see our students venture beyond the walls of the high school,” Billings said. “Just down the hill from us is a vibrant community center filled with the older residents of our town, eager to stay connected, and all of our kids are game.”
Pat Bibbo served as volleyball referee last week, blowing his whistle when the beach ball went out of bounds.
“This is a lot of fun for everybody,” he said.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.