Ask kindergartners at the Latin School of Chicago what 100 means to them and you're likely to hear: "the number of days we've been in school" or "a number we can count to." But don't be surprised if you get: "The age I hope to someday be."
The Lati.n School, located on the Near North Side, is an .independent, coeducational school for students in junior kindergarten through 12th grade. Recently the Latin School's youngest students got a special visit from three of the oldest members of Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly, a nonprofit organization committed to relieving loneliness and isolation among the elderly.
Until they sat face-to-face with Barbara, 101, Nanny, 100, and Mary Kate, 100, kindergartners at the Latin School, like many of their peers, could imagine 100 in one hundred different ways -as in ice cream flavors, jumping-jacks, and favorite TV shows.
"The number 100 is very special to our kindergartners," says Lynn Pearson, kindergarten teacher at the Latin School. "The children have been working very hard to count to 100, and we've just completed 100 days of school."
To make the number even more significant to the children, the Latin School invited Little Brothers centenarians into classrooms to share their stories of what life was like when they were five- and six-year-olds, before the days of television, radio, and cell phones.
"Listening to their stories gives the children a nice connection with older people. We wanted the children to know that if they're lucky and healthy they may also live to be 100. It surprised the children to see that two of the elders could walk just fine on their own and none of them had any gray hair," says Pearson.
With help from their teachers, the five- and six-year-olds compiled a list of things they thought one should do to live to be 100. Ideas ranged from "do pushups every day" to "eat your veggies" and "don't ever smoke or drink alcohol."
Christine Bertrand, Intergenerational Coordinator for Little Brothers, says the partnership with the Latin School also gives the elders the kind of social activities that helps relieve their loneliness.
"We've been working with the city schools to support a curriculum that promotes aging in a positive way. With activities like this, our elders get a chance to feel that they're giving something back to the community, as well."
The Latin School kindergartners ended their visit with Little Brothers by celebrating Mary Kate's recent 100th birthday in the best way they knew how, with tasty cupcakes and 100 enthusiastic handclaps.
Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization committed to relieving loneliness and isolation among the elderly. For the past 43 years, Little Brothers has reached out in friendship to elders who are growing old alone in Chicago and currently serves nearly 1,000 elders. For more information, call (312) 455-1000 or visit www.littlebrothers.org/chicago.
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