Recently, our 5th graders had a special opportunity to visit the Center on Halsted. They connected with older adults in our community to share joy, build relationships, and learn from their experiences.

The visit began with a sharing circle, where everyone introduced themselves and shared personal details like the number of siblings they have, their hobbies, and other common interests — creating meaningful connections from the start. Afterward, our students became teachers, introducing the residents to Taki, an Israeli card game similar to UNO. The room was filled with laughter and friendly competition as the game unfolded.

As the visit drew to a close, students and residents came together around the piano, creating a beautiful moment of music and togetherness. The experience embodied the cherished fifth-grade value of L’dor V’dor — "from generation to generation" — as stories, skills, and smiles were shared across ages.

We’re excited to continue building these intergenerational connections with upcoming visits in April and May, where our students will practice their interviewing skills and learn more about the lives and stories of their new friends.