South School kids to Seniors: Be my Valentine
Published on February 18th, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - As couples across the nation prepared to surprise their partners with diamond rings and lavish gourmet dinners for Valentine's Day, a handful of South School fourth graders proved that little things often mean so much more.
Filing into the Stoneham Senior Center's cafeteria as approximately 50 seniors sat at eight circular tables decorated with plush red table cloths, South School students Kenny Hogan, Tiffany LoPinsky, Jamie McDermott and Henry O'Connell voiced their appreciation for the golden-aged residents.
"We'd like to thank you for making Stoneham the place it is," remarked LoPinsky in a brief speech.
"Without you, a lot of us kids wouldn't be here. And we want to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day," added Hogan.
Then marching out into the crowd armed with a thick stack of handmade Valentine's Day cards and a wicker basket stuffed full of chocolate chip cookies and Hershey's kisses, the four students greeted each of the seniors and handed out their small tokens of appreciation.
Breaking from their lunch of gravy covered chicken breast with green beans, peas and carrots, many seniors coated the fourth graders with gratuitous kisses and hugs as they received their gifts.
"I felt so loved. It was just so marvelous especially with the Valentine's being so precious," remarked Williams Street resident Norma Gianferri, a 44-year resident of Stoneham.
"They're just so sincere and innocent. They really mean and feel what they say," added Gianferri, her eyes moist with emotion.
Pulling open her large pink Valentine's card that read, "Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, You are my friend, And I am one to you," 50-year Stoneham resident Phyllis Marks also felt touched by the presentation.
"I think it was wonderful. It does something for us and it does something for them. They were very good," said Marks.
According to the Stoneham School System's Outreach officer Eddie Aliberti, who coordinated the Senior Center visit and a similar trip to a life-care facility on Woodland Road by the South School's fifth graders, the activity presented a wonderful opportunity to instill a positive value system in the students.
"I feel like I'm coaching an all-star team. I give them a game plan and they execute it to perfection," said Aliberti of the students' great reception.
"This teaches them good values. It teaches them that everybody's important and nobody's forgotten. And like they said in their speeches, seniors are the people who really made Stoneham what it is," added Aliberti, who also organized a toys for tots collection and a Thanksgiving food drive with the South School students.
According to Senior Center Director Jane Lavender, who tried to keep the visit a secret from the seniors, the student's remarks about the contributions of the town's elders proved especially touching.
"It was just very special and I think they were very overwhelmed, especially with the speeches where they spoke about their contributions to seniors," Lavender commented.
As the students prepared to leave the center after their presentation, several of them reflected on the day's events.
"It was fun. I met someone who used to go to the South School where I go now," said O'Connell.
"After doing this, I feel like I really did the right thing," added Hogan.
According to South School Principal Nick Leonardos, the four students were members of the South School's fourth grade executive board or student council.
"It's just a way for the kids to be involved," said Leonardos of the student council. "It gives them a place to expel a lot of creative energy and enrich their school."
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