North Middlesex Regional School District Celebrates Gateway to Creativity Partnership Connecting Students and the Community

TOWNSEND — North Middlesex Regional School District’s Director of Special Education Erin Upton is pleased to highlight the work of paraprofessional Stephanie Kennedy and the North Middlesex Regional School District’s Gateway Program, an ongoing partnership with the Pepperell Council on Aging (COA).

Gateway to Creativity is an intergenerational community arts program that brings together students aged 18 to 22 in the program and local senior citizens through hands-on crafting, artistic expression and shared experiences.

The program was created thanks to the Massachusetts Council on Aging’s Service Incentive Grant, acquired by Pepperell’s COA Director Bethany Loveless. The grant has funded the purchase of projects, enabling them to be offered to the seniors who signed up at no cost.

The program is designed to foster meaningful relationships across generations while creating opportunities for participants to learn from one another, share skills and build connections within the community.

Through regular visits to the Pepperell COA, Gateway Program students and local seniors participate in crafting projects while spending time together and engaging in conversation. The partnership provides students with opportunities to connect with community members outside of the school setting, while giving seniors the opportunity to interact with and learn alongside a younger generation.

“Our visits with the Pepperell Council on Aging have been such a positive, impactful experience for our students,” said Kennedy. “The students really enjoy spending time with the seniors, and the activities give everyone an opportunity to connect, create and learn from one another. This partnership is a great example of how schools and community organizations can work together to create meaningful experiences for students, while strengthening connections within the community.”

Kennedy will present the work and success of the Gateway Program at a Massachusetts Councils on Aging Conference later this year. 

The district looks forward to continuing its partnership with the Pepperell COA and expanding opportunities for Gateway students and senior community members to connect through creativity, conversation and shared experiences.

To learn more about the Gateway Program, click here.

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