Caroling kids bring joy to seniors

Blackburn House

Video

By Denise Dick

The classes have been performing at the home for years.

POLAND — Six-year-old Anthony Koulianos, dressed in a Santa Claus hat, sang and swayed to Christmas music to the delight of residents of Blackburn Home for the Aged.

Anthony and his fellow kindergartners from Dobbins Elementary School entertained the residents Monday morning with singing and dancing to holiday songs.

From “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Silent Night” to “Deck The Halls” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” the young pupils performed while the elderly residents tapped their feet and clapped their hands along.

Anthony says he doesn’t have a favorite song.

“I like them all,” he said.

Riley Jo Norris, 5, agreed.

Both Riley Jo and Anthony said they had fun at the morning performance.

“I like, ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,’” said McKenzie Hegarty, 6.

Chryssa Papakirk, 5, pointed to “Up on the Housetop” as her favorite song.

“I have the book,” Chryssa explained.

The children, all dressed in sweat shirts bearing Christmas trees, some wearing Santa hats or red and green ribbons in their hair, performed hand motions through all of the holiday tunes. They, their teachers and parents made Christmas cookies for the event.

Teacher Elaine Fabrizi started bringing the children to sing for residents each spring about 25 years ago. Last year, they added a Christmas performance to the list of activities.

Teacher Stephanie Mateja and her class joined this year.

“They love it,” Fabrizi said of the pupils.

The little ones also made Christmas cards out of construction paper and colored markers and distributed them to spread holiday cheer to residents of the home.

denise_dick@vindy.com