Seniors back for new year of Generation Connection

MANALAPAN - Back to school is not just for students anymore. In Manalapan, the senior citizens are returning to school, too. For the senior volunteers of The Generation Connection, back to school means they will return to the classrooms, the lunchrooms and the hallways to greet their young protégés, as they share their experiences and their enthusiasm with the children.

These volunteers are part of an intergenerational school-based program that takes place in the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District. The program was the creation and brainchild of Stephanie Cayne-Meiskin in 2001-02 with six volunteers.

In five years it has grown to include 26 enthusiastic senior citizens who volunteer in one of the four participating schools throughout the district. Although Pine Brook continues to be the host school since the start of the program, Taylor Mills, Wemrock Brook and, most recently, Lafayette Mills School have also grown into program sites for the volunteers.

For the senior volunteers, Sept. 28 was their first day back to school. The seniors were greeted at the door and given name tags that included their years of service to the program. Some volunteers such as Carol and Sam Brown, Jennie Rosenblum and Bertha Pincus have been with the program since its inception.

Others like Sandy Adase, Sandy Meisel, Selma Leimon and Fredda Kerner are newcomers who are excited about working with the children and sharing stories and hobbies. Sixth-grade students escorted the seniors to a classroom. The Pine Brook Jazz Band, performing under the direction of John Rusin, band director, serenaded the volunteers as they entered the room.

Smiles abounded as the seniors spoke of their experiences with the children. To name a few, Joe Nass couldn't wait to return to Pine Brook School for his Friday afternoon chess game with the fourth- through sixth-grade pupils. Jennie Rosenblum was excited about working with the students in Sharyn Fischer's first-grade class at the Taylor Mills School. Matt Kibrick can't wait for his schedule - he will be spending time with the children at the Wemrock Brook, Pine Brook and Taylor

Mills schools.

Eleanor Fread, Maddie Fernandez and Bertha Pincus, the program's resident knitters, came with spools of yarn and needles in tow. Gerry Meisel planned to talk sports with the students and Joan Gleason is looking forward to helping children in math and other subjects.

Anyone who is interested in participating as a senior volunteer in The Generation Connection may contact Stephanie Cayne-Meiskin at (732) 786-2800 or send an e-mail to SCayne@mers.k12.nj.us.