END-OF-YEAR NEWSLETTER:

TURNING NEIGHBORS INTO FRIENDS

Thank you for another wonderful year of partnership! The Rashi School and NewBridge on the Charles relationship is truly a special one, and something we look forward to year after year. Highlighted below is just a snapshot of the work we have done this year and our commitment to multigenerational programming.

STATS, SNIPPETS & SNAPSHOTS

STATS

100% of students engaged with NewBridge this school year

6 out of 10 grades visited NewBridge every month this school year

Over 80 NewBridge residents attended a monthly program with Rashi

5 Jewish holidays celebrated together

SNIPPETS & SNAPSHOTS

The incredible Rashi 2nd graders took their Wax Museum on the road, transforming into famous figures for our Independent Living and Assisted Living residents to see. Their transformations "took" residents all across the world, and even to outer space!

Participating in one of our flagship programs Making Memories (6th-8th grade), Rashi 7th graders and memory patients went on a weekly journey to reignite and heighten their senses. Each week focused on a different sense, ending with a celebratory l’chaim with bubbly apple juice and melt-in-your-mouth cotton candy.

Inspired by their immigration unit, Rashi 3rd graders came over to interview NewBridge staff and residents about their families' immigration stories. Independent Living resident Charlie Small (pictured above) shared the story of his hat flying off the original Queen Elizabeth (Cunard Line) in November 1955 as his family first arrived to the United States of America. He reflects on his experience below.

"Thank you to my third grader friends! You are special and you each made me feel special! I want to know if you could recover my hat from the Ocean. It was fun being with you and I know your parents are each very proud of all of you. Hugs to all of you."

— Charlie Small

Very special guest Lois Lowry came to talk to Rashi 5th graders about her 2024 book Tree. Table. Book. which tells the story of an unlikely multigenerational friendship between two Sophies– one who is 11 and the other 88. Read out loud by Emily Charton, the 5th graders explored the meaning behind multigenerational relationships and the hardships of dementia. They then came to visit residents in our Memory Assisted Living to play Hanukkah BINGO and form meaningful multigenerational relationships, just like the book!

“Reading a novel aloud, discussing the themes of elder care and memory loss with our students, and connecting so beautifully with the residents of NewBridge in the memory care unit was a deep and rich experience. It will become a staple in our Grade 5 curriculum moving forward!”

— Emily Charton, Head of School

Mitzvah Makers, the after-school program that brings 2nd through 5th graders to engage with Traditional Assisted Living residents and Long Term Chronic Care patients continues to create strong relationships. Pictured above, Jillian Schaffer (4th grade) and Myrna Davidson (Traditional Assisted Living resident) are one of many strong relationships that formed this year. While reflecting on why her Mitzvah Makers experience felt important, Jillian said, because "It's a fun way to make friends that aren't your age."

Don’t know how to read yet? No problem, we’ve got residents who are prepared and ready to read to you! Through our Rashi Readers program, Rashi Pre-K students came monthly to visit, read, and discuss books with Traditional Assisted Living residents. Visiting regularly allowed everyone to build deep connections and engagement skills over time.

Each month, both the kindergarten and 1st grade classes came to engage with our Independent Living residents through activities ranging from playing with slime to taking Polaroid pictures to making pumpkin centerpieces. The end of the year brought lots of bittersweet feelings to our grandfamilies, but also lots of comfort in knowing we will continue to form these bonds next school year!

STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS

LYNDA'S DEPARTURE

Lynda Bussgang (pictured giving out lots of hugs and fist bumps on her last day) has left her role as Director of Volunteer Engagement after 15 years at Hebrew SeniorLife. Lynda’s vision for the Rashi-NewBridge relationship is the entire reason this newsletter, and all of the programs highlighted above, exist. We are immensely grateful for the creativity, leadership, and dedication Lynda has brought to this relationship.

"The Rashi School was literally built with the vision of an extensive partnership with our neighbors at NewBridge. Seeing that partnership flourish once again warms my heart and enriches both of our communities. Our students love the relationships that they have with the residents at NewBridge, and our teachers and families love the ways that our visits bring out the best in our children.

Lynda had a vision of what a true partnership between NewBridge and Rashi could be, ranging from students supporting people with Alzheimer's and dementia to residents teaching science classes at the school. We started with a few new and innovative programs and then used our work as a model for partnerships between NewBridge and other schools. Working with Lynda and her team was always a joy, and I knew that everything they planned would be equally excellent for the NewBridge residents and the Rashi students. Lynda's work was essential to making NewBridge hum. I will miss our partnership and am grateful that the programs she envisioned will continue at the hands of the exceptional NewBridge team."

— Rabbi Sharon Clevenger, Dean of Jewish Learning

ANDREW'S DEPARTURE

Andrew Alpert (pictured enjoying apple cider at our New Year's Eve Winter Formal) will be leaving his role as Program Coordinator for the Hebrew SeniorLife Volunteer Engagement Department after 4.5 years. If it weren't for moving to New York, Andrew claims he would have stayed at Hebrew SeniorLife "for forever." Anybody who has worked with Andrew over the past 4.5 years has been lucky enough to experience the immense amount of commitment and passion he brought to his job every day. We feel equally grateful for the creativity, leadership, and dedication Andrew brought to this relationship as well.

YOUR NEWBRIDGE ON THE CHARLES STAFF

Despite Lynda and Andrew's absence, Hannah is dedicated to building and growing the Rashi-NewBridge connection, and will hopefully have a new partner-in-crime by the time the 2025/26 school year begins. 

Hannah Silver (pictured 'keeping the balloon up' during Making Memories) is the Multigenerational Coordinator of the Hebrew SeniorLife Volunteer Engagement Department and joined the team last September. She recently graduated from Boston University with her Masters of Education and is now enjoying her time exploring the East Coast. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, she is still trying to figure out why everyone is so obsessed with Fenway Park here, when clearly Wrigley Field is superior. She always tries to integrate her interests (like baseball!) into the work she does at Hebrew SeniorLife, and feels especially grateful for the incredible team—at both The Rashi School and NewBridge on the Charles—that she gets to work with daily.

Wishing you a great summer and looking forward to next school year,

Hannah