RAINBOW-COLORED markers, colored pencils and crayons were strewn about as students made Valentine’s Day cards for neighbors struggling with Alzheimer’s disease.
Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic School students in Huntington Beach gathered among their “saint families” to create Valentine’s Day cards with words of affirmation for the neighboring Alzheimer’s Family Center. Saint families, or faith families, are when students from each grade gather to give back to the
community.
“I just hope they take the experience as: We can help anybody, no matter what,” said kindergarten teacher Angelica Ponce, whose grandmother had Alzheimer’s. “Doing these little cards will mean so much. It’s an hour of our time to show people we care, we’re here and that we love them.”
The idea for this year’s Feast of St. Valentine service project was inspired by a recent field trip to the nearby Alzheimer’s Family Center to sing songs and deliver cards, said the school’s vice principal Erin Watson. Everyone returned from the trip talking about how much joy was spread to the people there, Watson said.
“Our motto here is faith, knowledge, service, Walson added. “So, we instill in our students that giving back in service to the community, whether it’s the local community or farther away, is very important. Our Catholic Church teaches about social teachings, how we are supposed to give back, help those less fortunate, know they are loved by God. That is what we think this project does.”
One of the saint families, St. Paul, assembled in Ponce’s kindergarten classroom to watch a video on St. Valentine before making their cards and filling them with affirmations. Eighth-grader Lily Weber, 13, sat with kindergarteners Elyse Nuwer, 6, and Drew Kobe Williams, 5, to provide them help and support. Saint families also provide leadership opportunities for the eighth graders.
Saint families is fun, said Weber, but it’s also a chance to help the younger children understand what school will be like when they are older. She said she tries to help them pay attention and show respect.
“I think I’m trying to teach them to be leaders,” Webber added, before quickly telling nearby Elyse good job for completing her heart. “We just need to make it all fun because at this age it should all be fun.”
Meanwhile, fourth-graders Mia Martin, 9, and Georgia Weber, 10, were adding intricate designs and lots of colors to their cards.
“I hope that they feel loved, and I hope that they think we put a lot of work into it,” said Georgia Weber.
Anya Karki, 7, was one of the second graders who recently visited the Alzheimer’s Family Center. She chose to write, “Your love matters” and “You are loved” on her card. “Because they are loved and their love matters,” Karki said. “Because we love them.”
Creating the cards, or just helping others, is a part of our Catholic faith, said sixth-grader Guiliana Jones, 12, Karki helped finish the thought.
“To be kind,” she said, “and be like Jesus and God.”