EASTON
MARCH 28, 2012
When 42 eighth graders from Saints Peter and Paul Elementary School recently visited the residents of Londonderry Retirement Community to read their essays on the interviews they had conducted with residents, smiles and laughter filled the room. Londonderry resident Elaine Utley, who helped coordinate the project commented, “Even though we are with each other every day, we found out things about each other that we never knew before.”
Pictured are residents at Londonderry Retirement Community listening to Sts. Peter and Paul eighth graders reading their essays based on interviews they did of the residents for their English class. (Photo courtesy of Bill Kepner)
The students made three visits to do research and interview the Londonderry residents. Eight students were selected to read their essays. Resident Bill Kepner, who had an illustrious photography career, spoke of his student interviewer, saying, “It was like talking to a friend.”
Following the essays being read, each of the 20 Londonderry residents received his or her essay in its raw, unedited form. You could see in the residents’ eyes how flattered, and in some cases tearful, they were to hear their stories told. Retired New York City police officer and Londonderry resident, William Farberman, commented about his students, Robert Smoloski and Nick Deluca, “They were fine young men. The fact that they were interested in me and my profession was wonderful.”
Resident Fran Appell, retired RN and nursing school administrator, commented, “It was just wonderful to expose us to the younger citizens of our town. In addition to them asking me questions, I got to ask them questions and be interested in their lives.”
Student Abigail Barcus, who interviewed Appell, added, “I loved this experience. It was something different than regular English class. I didn’t think it would be as wonderful for the residents as it was for us, but it was.”
Utley added, “It was a shot of adrenalin into the retirement community. In learning about this generation of students, we learned that the world will be in good hands when we are gone.”
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