Bocce, The Bay & Best Friends: A partnership between a Virginia Beach Life Plan Community and low-income area elementary school creates lasting memories
What do fifth graders and adults over age 62 have in common?
More than you might think.
Three years ago, Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay (WC) formed a partnership with Seatack Elementary School in Virginia Beach, where the majority of children are on free or reduced lunch programs.
Residents from WC began visiting the school, teaching the 5th graders there how to play bocce, croquet and Ping-Pong, games that were foreign to most of the students. To celebrate their promotion to middle school and show off their new skills, the students then traveled across town to WC at the end of the academic year. The event is called “Field Day on the Bay” and this year it took place on June 10.
In WC’s backyard, students played the three games with their new friends and ran along the shoreline, splashing in the Chesapeake Bay, a rare opportunity for most of the 11-year-olds.
Vincent Darby, principal of Seatack, explained that “many of our students are devoid of meaningful conversation. When someone takes interest in our students, it shows them that someone cares. It has a glowing effect that you can see on their faces. These students don’t have many of the experiences we take for granted.”
“Our members enjoy [living here]. And, like anything you enjoy, you want to share the beauty and the joy with others. Our members get to demonstrate the benefits of a healthy, fun lifestyle to the students,” says Emma Weddell, senior manager of Resident Life and Wellness. “It’s the perfect way for the residents to share their passions and teach the students unforgettable lessons in discipline, cooperation and teamwork.”
“It’s as good for the adults as it is for the students,” says WC resident Pete Bondi. “It’s a truly unique situation to put these two groups of people together and the results couldn’t be any better. We form great relationships, and we hope to become role models in some way.”
Carol Walters, another WC resident who has participated in the event each year, says Field Day gives the students an idea of what older people do. “We still play games!” she says. “A healthy, active lifestyle is important at any age, and we couldn’t be happier that we can provide this experience for [the students] at Seatack each year.”