Thankful for Senior Citizens

The Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon sponsored by The Carmel Teachers’ Association was a big success with the guests praising the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables and, of course, pumpkin pie.  

Most of all, however, the senior citizens who came to Carmel High School, George Fischer Middle School and Matthew Paterson Elementary School were glad to return to schools that many of their children (and some of them) attended and to see friends from the throughout the community. 

“We love our seniors,” said Alice Holzmann, the Family and Consumer Science teacher at George Fischer Middle School. “And they love this event.”    

Holzmann not only organized the event districtwide, she baked 45 pumpkin breads as party favors for the seniors to take home.  Family and Consumer Science students served lunch to the crowd and the middle school band and orchestra provided the entertainment. 

“So many people helped with the event,” Holzmann said.  

The lunch was a true community event. The CTA partnered with the Putnam County Office for Senior Resources to reach out to the seniors.  Patrick Rodia and the entire Carmel Central School District food services staff, the cafeteria staff and custodians in each school and teachers, students and music programs districtwide all worked hard to create a wonderful celebration. 

At Carmel High School, Science Teacher Audrey Romanovsky organized the event while National Honor Society students escorted seniors to the cafeteria and PACE students served the lunch to the 27 seniors who signed up.  

At Matthew Paterson Elementary, Second Grade Teachers Christine Demme and Charissa Vickery organized the event, the 4th grade Student Ambassadors served the lunch and the kindergartners sang to the crowd.