A new partnership with the Newtown Public School District and the Newtown Senior Center officially began on January 23, when one fourth grade class visited seniors.

Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue spoke at the start of the event, explaining that a committee of a new district group called the Parent Educator Advisory Council (PEAC) created the partnership this year.

“It is a pilot and it is starting with Hawley,” Dr Rodrigue said.

Hawley Elementary School fourth grade teacher Michael Poeltl’s fourth graders arrived as lunch was served, and the gathered seniors sat at tables to eat during the presentations.

Mr Poeltl explained fourth grade students “go out into the community” to complete projects to see how schools can impact the community. His students shared their completed projects from that effort with the seniors.

“We’re really excited that you guys are here for us,” said Mr Poeltl to the seniors.

Students then individually walked up to tables to speak with groups of seniors. JP Gioffe said his project was helping cats and dogs at PAWS animal shelter in Norwalk, Heidi Smith explained she helped paint Ben’s Bells, and Tristan Rosenschein said he created care packages for Newtown police officers after meeting and speaking with Newtown Police Department School Resource Officer William Chapman. Each student spoke at a different table and seniors listened as the students explained their projects. The students then rotated through tables, so each student in the class had a chance to speak with seniors. All of the students used Chromebooks to share their presentations.

As shared during a presentation at a January 7 Board of Education meeting, Dr Rodrigue invited parents and staff members to join PEAC last summer “to promote a partnership between educators and parents that will embrace core values, further a common language for all stakeholders, and support district priorities in the best interest of all students.” PEAC has three committees: Partnerships, Communication and Branding, and Budget. Each committee is working on different aspects of the group’s mission. The Partnerships Committee began the collaboration between the schools and the Senior Center, as previously reported in The Newtown Bee.

PEAC Partnership Committee members Hawley Elementary School teacher Deborah Lubin and district parent and Newtown Sped PTA Co-President Mary Murphy also spoke at the January 23 event.

Ms Lubin thanked Mr Poeltl and his students for being the first group to visit the senior center through the new PEAC partnership. She said it was the start of a relationship that she hopes will continue for “many years to come.”

“I’m really excited about our new initiative,” said Ms Lubin.

As the effort was underway, Ms Murphy said she was “so overwhelmingly impressed with the kids’ confidence and comfort level going up to the tables with seniors and presenting the projects.”

Dr Rodrigue reflected on the event saying she was “thrilled as a superintendent,” as the effort not only engaged students and educators, but also parents who attended the event. Engaging seniors, she added, will support climate and culture in the Newtown public schools.

Pointing out the new partnership is only one of PEAC’s goals, Dr Rodrigue said, “There is so much more to come.”