CLASS AT ALMA SCHRADER ADOPTS GRANDMA

Alta Blumenberg had a visit from her grandchildren Tuesday afternoon all 25 of them.

Students in Betty Chasteen's second-grade class at Alma Schrader Elementary School adopted Blumenberg for the school year. The entire class came for a visit and to bring "Grandma Blumenberg" a gift.

Each child in the class created a quilt square, which was then sewn into a quilt for their adopted grandmother. The youngsters also prepared a mini piano recital and a soccer demonstration to cap off the year's activities.

Blumenberg, who lives at Cape LaCroix Nursing Center, said: "I've enjoyed it. They're so happy. I was glad to see them every time.

"They are just dreadfully cute," she said, as the children sprinted after soccer balls on the nursing-home lawn. Blumenberg has no children.

Jayme Kolwyck, admissions coordinator at the nursing home, sent letters to area schools in the fall inviting them to adopt grandparents. "A lot of kids grow up afraid of nursing homes and the elderly. I wanted to do something intergenerational for both the kids and the residents."

"One of the things we study in second grade is community," said Chasteen. "I thought this would be a good opportunity to learn about another aspect of our community. One of the other things we do in second grade is write letters. So many of the children think they have no one to write to. This way we had a class project and everyone wrote to Grandma Blumenberg."

Blumenberg wrote back to each of the children.

Students wrote to her about the things they liked to do. Many told her they enjoyed playing soccer. Blumenberg responded that she didn't know what soccer was.

"The boys were concerned that she didn't know about soccer. They wanted to show her what it was all about," Chasteen said.

A student in the class, Ashley Rust, explained, "Every two weeks, four people from our class came out to visit her."

Abbie Leming explained that through the year class members made books for Blumenberg and sent her letters.

On Grandparents Day in the school district, Grandma Blumenberg attended school. She brought cookies for the children, the first time she had been in the kitchen in six years.

Ashley said the project has been fun for classmates and "Grandma Blumenberg.

"Her husband died and none of her relatives live around here," Ashley said. "I think she was lonely. I think it was fun making this stuff and neat to have her open her present. She really liked it."

"All the children look forward to coming out to visit," said Loretta Templeton, a parent who accompanied the children to the nursing home.

Templeton added that the program has been good for the students. "There is a lot more to school than textbooks. There is the people factor. Children need to learn to get along with others to be able to use the skills they learn in class."

Another parent, Mary Miller, said, "I think this also teaches them to think about others instead of themselves all the time."

"All the students responded differently," Chasteen said. "Some were loving and affectionate. Others were afraid to speak to her. I let the children decide how much they wanted to do."

Chasteen said: "A lot of the children don't have grandparents close by. This has been a really positive thing for the children and for her. We have had several real learning opportunities."

Kolwyck said she has seen a boost in Blumenberg's morale. "I think she has been a lot more chipper. When we ask her about the kids, she always says `Do you mean my grandkids?' I think this really makes her feel special."