First-graders make annual volunteer trip to Marklund

More than 70 first-graders from Grace McWayne School in Batavia arrived at the Marklund Hyde Center in Geneva a little tentative about their visit, but left excited to about their experiences, in what one teacher called "the ultimate field trip!"

During this special field trip, the students volunteered their time to visit with 96 Marklund residents, adults with profound developmental disabilities, within the Community Day Services classrooms at the Hyde Center.

Paired up with teachers and parent chaperones, the students read story books, created heart-art crafts to give to the residents, and then gathered together to sing songs.

"Having the Grace McWayne first graders here is one of my favorite days of the year," said Nikki Osterloh, volunteer program manager at Marklund. "There’s something so magical about seeing little kids, who usually start off shy and quiet, end their time here with laughs and smiles -- a group of girls even asked me if they could stay to help out more!"

Teacher Ashtyn McBride was impressed by how well her students took to the visit. "I think this experience was a wonderful way for students to see how each person\'s life can be both similar and different, and it was exciting to see how many of them truly embraced it."

Teacher Chad Clarey has planned the trip for the past four years, saying it gets better each year. "We are learning about communities in first grade and trying to find out more about the neighborhoods around us. Marklund is literally in the backyards of some of our students, and now they have a really good idea who lives there, and have met the heroes who work there.

"We took away many ‘gifts’ from this day," he continued, "in addition to new friendships. Seeing how students brought the love, practiced a new skill of empathy, and were so brave in reading, singing, sharing, and learning--this is the ultimate field trip!"