N-O Third Graders Are Game For Service-Learning Program

Tic-Tac-Toe, Uno, and Candyland were among the games played this morning as the Neligh-Oakdale third graders visited the Willows. 

Third grade teachers Sharon Kinnan and Cassie Koinzan said they bring their classes over to the Willows Assisted Living Center once a month during the school year. 

Sharon Kinnan said the Adopt-A-Grandparent is a long-standing service project that the Neligh-Oakdale Elementary and the Willows have partnered together on.

“This has been an ongoing partnership since the Willows opened about 15 years ago,” Kinnan said. 

Residents and elementary students do art projects and play games together along with other activities.

Koinzan said, “We made little crafts at school and brought them as gifts. At Christmas time, we played bingo.”

Students and residents enjoy a sack lunch meal together to end their school year meetings.

“We always have lunch together on the last day of the last month. Our school fixes us sack lunches and the Willows fixes sack lunches for residents and we all sit at the table and eat together,” Kinnan said.

Kinnan said that building relationships is one of the greatest values for students, who are encouraged to visit their program partners outside of class.