Carolyn Della Foresta
and Doug Young.
Forest
Hill goes back to school
Tuesday, October 4,
2005 -- Craig Anderson
When it came to programming, Carolyn Della
Foresta wanted this September to be one to
remember.
As the month following summer,
when seasonal programming themes like weddings,
BBQ's, outings, bountiful fruit and vegetable
menus are a given, September can often be
a let-down, says Carolyn.
This year, Carolyn, LEC, and
Carol Schwartz, assistant LEC, decided a month-long
theme was the most appropriate way to solve
the September programming dilemma. The obvious
choice? Take the residents and staff back
to school.
The 'back to school' program
became omnipresent. Fitness became phys-ed,
cognitive lessons were replaced by classes
on geography, history, and creative writing.
Baking become 'Home Ec 101.' Craig Forrest,
who normally runs the cognitive lessons, switched
his classes to focus on Canadian geography.
Andrew Hart, a consolidation
student, led the creative writing class. Andrew,
who quickly earned the nickname 'Professor'
encouraged the residents to write a 20-page
fairy tale.
Memories became the centrepiece
of one class - "Discpline Then and Now,"
in which residents discussed the methods of
corporal punishment employed by teachers and
headmasters in grade schools in the first
half of the twentieth century.
The home was completely redecorated
to match the programming theme. The home's
pub was filled with old wooden desks, a school
bell was installed, and old school books were
in great supply.
The month's programming culminated
in a graduation ceremony. For one of the 35
attendees, the ceremony was particularly special.
Doug Young, a resident, had
never graduated from high school. He was made
class valedictorian at a ceremony, which featured
a brown bag lunch and award presentations
for 'best attendance' and 'helpful heart.'
Just before the gathered residents threw their
mortar boards in the air, a resident led the
gathered through a rousing rendition of 'Hail,
Hail, the gang's all here.'
"They just loved it,"
says Carolyn.
