Bridging the Gap

Holy Comforter Episcopal School (HCES) has undergone many changes since it opened in 1956, but its mission has been a constant. The school, located off Fleischmann Road, is dedicated to making children productive, compassionate and empathetic members of society.

Recently, that focus led the school to establish a partnership with Westminster Oaks, a retirement community located less than two miles away.

In September, HCES’s middle school acapella choir performed at the Westminster Oaks memory care unit. The all-girls group, led by choral director Jessica Applegate-Ogden, sang tunes familiar to audience members. That experience, said HCES Director of Advancement Ida Thompson, was special for both the students and Westminster residents.

↑ In September, HCES’s middle school acapella choir performed at the Westminster Oaks memory care unit. The residents loved the event so much that the students returned in December for a special Christmas concert. Photos Courtesy of Holy Comforter Episcopal School

The event “really made our memory care residents smile,” said Peggy Hsieh, a retired Florida State University professor, Westminster Oaks resident and partnership liaison. “They were happy and wanted to know if the students would be coming back again.”

HCES Director of Marketing and Communications, Vanessa Culpepper, said “the girls enjoyed the performance as much, if not more, than some of the residents.”

Given the event’s success, HCES has staged additional performances at Westminster Oaks, including a special Christmas concert.

Going forward, however, the partnership will not be limited to student productions. Hsieh, Thompson and Culpepper plan on having Westminster residents deliver lectures and seminars at the school.

“We have many retired professors here,” Hsieh said. “They are rich in knowledge and can share advice to help students make informed decisions about their futures.”

“It’s impactful to create intergenerational learning opportunities,” Thompson said. “Children can learn so much from the people who live at Westminster and vice versa.”

Culpepper said the interaction will help prepare HCES students for the next chapter of their lives and ultimately shape them into kinder, more empathetic people.

Photo by The Workmans

“It’s about the whole child and them having a chance to see what’s outside them and make them good people,” she said.

Hsieh agreed.

“Students can obtain insights into different perspectives, learn about history firsthand, and develop empathy and understanding of a different generation of people,” she said.

For Westminster residents, Hsieh said the program can also be a source of joy. 

“So many seniors face social isolation and feel very lonely. So the interaction can really foster a sense of connection and love,” Hsieh said, “I think they love to interact with the younger generation, so the partnership can not only stimulate their physical and mental functions but can provide them lots of happiness.”

To fully reap these benefits, Hsieh hopes the groups can work together on an “intergenerational project.”

“We’ve been thinking about some kind of reading project to begin with — a kind of collaborative project between the old and the young,” she said. “Something very creative that will develop a sense of accomplishment and contribute to the creation of lasting memories.”

Thompson and Culpepper envision hosting a luncheon.

“I think that asking questions in a regular ‘breaking bread’ situation provides an opportunity to learn about people of a different age,” Thompson said. “Exposure to people of different ages in different walks of life enriches our students’ lives.”

Photo by The Workmans

Other proposed activities include joint meetings between HCES Boy Scouts and Westminster Oaks Eagle Scouts, crafts sessions and collaborative volunteer events.

Meanwhile, the arts will remain central to the partnership.

“The arts kind of transcend, right?” Thompson said. “It’s something that you could do when you’re 2 years old, and it’s something you can do when you’re 92 years old — creating art, being a part of art or listening to art or music. I just think it’s something they can all do together, and I think that’s important.”