St Patrick’s School students strengthen bond with Kerry Lodge residents beyond the classroom

Students of St Patrick’s School in Katanning have completed their community service options program with Kerry Lodge as part of an initiative to expand their interests beyond the classroom. Every Tuesday for the past five weeks, a mix of students visited the facility to engage in games and activities to foster relationships with the residents. Despite a COVID scare causing a missed week, students maintained their strong bond by crafting heartfelt handmade cards, bringing warmth to the hearts of their buddies. St Patrick’s principal Brett Wilkie said the initiative was a glowing representation of the school’s motto - “concern for others”. “It is wonderful for our students to appreciate that all members of our community have much to offer and that sometimes the seniors in our community need companionship that our students can fill,” Mr Wilkie said. “Our school has a motto of ‘concern for others’ and so we are all always seeking ways to help others in the community.” The five-week program has also allowed the students to gain an understanding of the health service industry. “Our students developed an appreciation for the selfless work that our nursing and hospital staff do, as well as an understanding of how important it is to have quality facilities available for the elderly who may require care,” he said. “The children developed a genuine affection for their senior companions and, while initially nervous about visiting Kerry Lodge, it quickly became something that they looked forward to each week. “They absolutely loved updating the seniors on their latest news from school and home and we hope that we can continue these visits in 2024 to further establish these relationships.” Kerry Lodge clinical nurse manager Chianne Cole said the children’s weekly presence had lifted the spirits of the residents. “The feel in Kerry lodge has been very warm and uplifting having the children from St Patrick’s come to visit,” Ms Cole said. “After each visit, the residents continue to ask questions about their St Pat’s pals and even begin to count down the days until they get to see them again. “We have had residents who prefer to stick to themselves coming out of their rooms to join in on the fun and get amongst the kids which has been great to see.” Ms Cole said the program had established a foundation for cultivating relationships in future initiatives. “We hope to continue with more programs like this one with St Pats into the new year so we can continue to foster these inter-generational friendships between the children and the residents of Kerry Lodge,” she said. “The value we have seen this program bring to both the children and the elderly is something truly spectacular to witness.”