BY MAGGIE BEAMGUARD
Insider Editor
Several West End Elementary students proved recently you are never too young or too old to grow something new — especially when it comes to friendship.
The newly formed Kiwanis K-Kids Club visited the residents at Seven Lakes Assisted Living and Memory Care last month. They brought a “WEE Paint and Plant” project to work on with the seniors.
Fifth grade teacher Sarah Wooley formed the club earlier this year with the encouragement and support of Principal Katie Lockamy. The student-led leadership program is part of the Kiwanis organization.
The program for elementary students seeks to develop leadership skills and nurture a commitment to service. Students from the third and fourth grades were chosen by their teachers based on their core values of leadership, learning, service and character.
The fifth grade students were voted on by their peers. Modeled after adult Kiwanis clubs, the fifth graders serve on a leadership board that includes a president, vice president, secretary, treasure and committee chair.
Service projects are a requirement of the club. The K-Kids started an in house reading buddies program with students in the lower grades.
The older students were inspired by the members of the Union Pines Key Club who paid them a visit in their planning stages. After hearing about the Key Club’s service project at a nursing facility, the K-Kids latched onto the idea of working with older adults.
The K-Kids club fundraised for the project, holding a raffle for a heritage flag donated by the Heritage Flag Co. in Southern Pines. They also solicited donations of supplies of pots from Burney True Value Hardware of Seven Lakes and dirt for planting from T.H. Blue. After purchasing additional supplies, they raised $674 for future projects.
Forty members of WEE’s Safety Team joined the K-Club members for a bus ride to the senior residence. The students worked with residents to paint pots and plant them with flowers.
The project and the students were well received by the seniors.
“They were so thrilled. They loved them,” said Wooley. “One of the residents said they were the most beautiful children they had ever seen. They were happy and welcoming.”
All the teachers were proud of the students who practiced kindness and patience and seemed to genuinely enjoy striking up conversations with their elders.
Wooley credits speaking skills required by a recent fifth grade wax museum project with putting the students at ease and eager to engage. These life lessons help young people grow.
“They want to go back,” said Wooley of the positive experience. Students are already making plans for the next school year and Wooley expects that the club will grow in size.
Fifth grade teacher David Katz, leader of WEE’s safety team, was instrumental in helping the students organize the event. Teacher Elizabeth Lariviere provided club support throughout the year. Susan Saulsbury serves as the Seven Lakes Kiwanis Club sponsor.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
