Students from Bligh Park Public School and their Chaplain Tanya Middleton recently visited the Chesalon Nursing Home as part of a new program to encourage local connections and care.
Boys from years 5 and 6 delighted residents as they met with and delivered chocolates and care packages that their families had donated.
“It was amazing,” Chaplain Middleton said.
“I'm so proud of the boys, they were respectful, empathic and interactive.”
The aim of the new program is for students to make regular visits and engage with nursing home residents in activities such as reading and playing board games.
“The purpose of this project is to teach the boys the importance of giving back to the community and to allow them to look at the world though someone else's eyes - developing kindness, generosity and empathy.”
A Chaplain is a support worker within the school who can provide one-on-one care, mentoring and support for students, parents and staff. Chaplains are also able to run specific programs tailored to the school’s needs such as grief and loss, resilience building and anti-bullying.
General Manager of Generate Ministries, the leading provider of School Chaplains in NSW, James Flavin, congratulated the students.
“We congratulate both the students and Tanya on this initiative. This is a fantastic way that a School Chaplain can help to provide connections between the school and local community,” Mr Flavin said.
