Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Shayla Schilz and Jasmine Deeds talk with Charlotta Young, while Aspen Schilz interviews Jim Young as the young people closed out a unit where they met and learned about adults and their lives compared to their own experiences. The project ended last week with a multi-generational "prom".
Raiders Reaching Out, an extension of Sidney High School's human development class, closed out a special project Friday with a multi-generational prom that capped a months-long project where class members got to know people from a few years to decades older.
Senior citizens from extended care facilities, one of the target audiences for the Raiders Reaching Out, were unable to attend, but those in attendance were impressed by the students' enthusiasm and energy as they conducted interviews, visited and danced to the tunes familiar from their own youth.
For the students, they closed a project that was "eye opening," and "surprising" as they learned about their elders' lives.
There was also some enjoyment and surprise on the part of the prom's honored guests. They found themselves enjoying familiar tunes like "Boggey Woogey Bugle Boy of Company B," "Sweet Home Alabama," and "Dancing Queen." But also, to their amazement and surprise they watched students sing along with old favorites that pre-dated their lives by up to 50 years.
Students finished up the project with interviews of the adults attending the event, asking them how they felt life differed from today, what their greatest life's accomplishment was, what advise they had to offer, and also visited with their guests throughout the evening.
For the students' part, the project made an impact in their lives, in many cases much more than expected.
Sophomore Josie Dowse said she made many connections, particularly at a Lexington nursing home, where at the end "they were sad to see us go."
Classmate Rayne Daily said one of the biggest thing she got from the project was "to always enjoy my life and not take things for granted."
During the dance portion of the prom, attendees had the chance to learn a few steps, with the assistance of Jim and Charlotta Young of Kimball. The pair showed dance steps several times during the night, and by the time the evening was over, all in attendance had taken a whirl on the dance floor at the Elks Club.
The prom closed out the current unit for the students, but will be part of a review at the end of the class.
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