Arrow Senior Living to Celebrate Back-to-School Season

At Arrow Senior Living, we are always excited to celebrate the Back-to-School season! Partnering with local schools is typically a year-long effort, but there is a special focus on the time when most students are heading back to the classroom- whether in person or virtually.

Arrow Senior Living has created a bond with Mrs. Forste’s second grade class over the past few years. We will be continuing to support her and her students throughout the school year and are putting a dedicated effort to relieving some of that back-to-school stress (and expense)! Not only are teachers underpaid, but they most always purchase supplies from their own finances. A teacher’s individual wish list is an important way to ensure the specific needs for each student can be met. Even one small purchase helps more than you would imagine! If you would like to join us in our efforts, here is Mrs. Forste’s amazon classroom wish list 

At each of our communities, we nurture these partnerships in many ways. For some, it may be a visit to the classroom to spend time with students. For others, it may be creating a supply drive to ensure students and teachers have what they need to make the school year a success. Our residents find it easy to relate to these outreach efforts as many of them can recall a time when they returned to school as well.

Fostering these relationships helps build a sense of community among students, teachers, residents, and staff. There are plenty of advantages to intergenerational activities- such as decreasing the social and economic isolation so many seniors feel. Research has shown that seniors’ health, memory, and balance can benefit from volunteering regularly with children. Not only do these relationships benefit the older generations, but also the younger ones as well. Studies have also shown that children who interact with elders are less likely than others to start illegal drug use, will more likely have improved communication with their parents, and are less likely to experience depression. Lastly, these experiences can create timeless memories for both the seniors and children involved, such as making a new friend, trying a new game or activity, or listening to stories of each other’s life.

While many of our communities have already formed relationships with local elementary schools, we are branching out this year to include those in high schools. The importance of showing support to high school students has become so much greater in recent years due to the array of struggles both students and teachers are currently facing. Students who are approaching graduation are focused on both planning for their futures as well as trying to enjoy the present and all the exciting things that come along with being a senior. Incoming high school students must adjust to a new setting, unfamiliar teachers and peers, and the pressure of a high school curriculum. Kids not only have to focus on their education, but also the worries of peer pressure, bullying, sleep deprivation, and school violence. These are just a few moments that can make a difference in the lives of high school students. This year, elders in our communities are making it their mission to help relieve some of this stress. We plan to make visits to local high schools on their first day back to cheer them on as they head into class. Some of our seniors are taking part in supply drives to make sure students and teachers have what they need. Throughout the year, communities have even made plans to attend sporting events to cheer on their local teams.

Whatever the form of support may be, our seniors and staff members have recognized there is no better time than now to show we care! Arrow Senior Living communities will continue to show their support in a lot of different ways this Back-to-School season and throughout the school year.