Elderly

All Potomac students engage in foundational service learning experiences connected to four community needs: hunger, homelessness, and poverty; literacy; the elderly; and the environment. They become empowered by a greater understanding of these needs and lead or participate in activities such as:

• Second Grade, Chesterbrook Residences
  Each winter, second graders visit Chesterbrook Residences in Falls Church to engage in intergenerational conversations with residents at the senior living community. Making a connection through storytelling, students share “small moment” writings created in class and hear about stories from their older adult friends.
• Fourth Grade, Sunrise Reston
  Connected to the grade-level cursive writing curriculum, fourth grade students participate in a pen pal program with residents at Sunrise Assisted Living in Reston. Students exchange letters with their older adult partners and the program culminates with a visit to Sunrise Reston, where students meet their pen pals in person.
• Tenth Grade, Community Action Program
  Each spring, tenth grade Advisories engage with older adults at local senior centers and senior living communities, including Culpepper Gardens and Herndon Senior Center. After their visit, students participate in service projects on campus, which include creating spring greeting cards for older adults served by Meals on Wheels Alexandria.