SV hosts annual Senior Holiday Event
JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley School District opened its doors to senior citizens to show its appreciation to them during this holiday season.
The district Friday had its 18th Senior Holiday Event at the high school.
It featured performances by the Seneca Valley Jazz Band, the String Ensemble and the Madrigal Singers. After the performances, the seniors were treated to a meal in the cafeteria.
Student council, the National Honor Society and JROTC members helped with the luncheon.
“Today our act of kindness to you is to show you from the bottom of our heart how much we appreciate your wisdom in our community,” said Tracy Vitale, superintendent.
“How much we appreciate your community service hours, the hours you may have given to serve our country, the hours you may have given to raise children or to raise a niece and a nephew or to take a neighbor by the hand and say “Hey I am sorry you lost someone several years ago, I am here for you ... that is what today is about.”
Vitale said as seniors, parents and grandparents, it is their job to raise children who show acts of kindness all year, not just during the holiday season.
That morning Vitale was reminded of how important acts of kindness are, and that does not mean giving someone a physical gift.
Vitale said she was thinking about one of her colleagues whose wife died some years ago, and in the holiday season, he was raising his two young boys. She wrote him a letter to tell him how she was feeling about him.
Vitale said, “I came back to my kitchen table and stopped and just wrote him a little note. That is an act of kindness. It was probably even better for me. My soul needed that.”
Vitale said her letter to everyone in the audience is that this is a good generation of students.
“For all of the bad things that you hear about, I don't believe it because I see it and you are going to see more of it today,” Vitale said. “We have a lot to give, and we have a lot to show them as our parents and grandparents showed us and that is what the season is about and that is what life is about.”
Sylvia Gange of Jackson Township said she thought the performances by the students were excellent, and she could tell they worked extremely hard. She also noted the students were polite.
“The lunch was fantastic. I think it is just a wonderful thing they do for seniors,” Gange said. “I think it makes the kids realize that they need to have respect for the elderly, and they all do a good job; they really do.”
Betty Brenckle of Middle Lancaster said the students were so talented and had a wonderful performance.
“I liked it; I really did. This is the first time I have ever come and I really enjoyed it,” Brenckle said. “I think it is a great idea, and it is nice to know that they think that much of the seniors.”
Leslie Whipple of Cranberry Township said the students performed like professionals.
“It was like a downtown sort of experience as far as the music goes,” Whipple said. “We are very blessed and lucky that Seneca Valley students extend themselves to the community. We loved it right down to the last bite of pie.”
