(FORT BEND ISD) – Fort Bend ISD’s first-ever “Winter Game Night” for those aged 62 and above -featuring lighthearted competitions, treats and prizes- was a fun evening for the community’s senior citizens as well as FBISD high school students who are in the Peer Assistance & Leadership group known as PALs.
About 50 local senior residents attended the evening event Jan. 11 at the Reese Career and Technical Center. About 30 FBISD PALs members from various high schools were on hand to serve as facilitators and snack servers. However, it wasn’t all work and no play for the teens. They joined in each game right alongside the senior citizens, which resulted in beneficial cross-generational engagement, understanding and support.
“This is a great way to get the community to come together and get to know other people and I think the senior citizens are enjoying it,” Clements High School student Katelyn Lam said. “I mean, I see a lot of smiles and laughter and people meeting new people. It’s really nice.”
The game night was the latest in a series of outreach events the district holds to inform and celebrate Fort Bend ISD’s retirement community. Most attendees were FBISD Gold Card members, meaning they have been issued a district card that grants them free access to FBISD athletic and fine arts events. Any resident of Fort Bend ISD who is 62 or older may receive a Gold Card at no cost. Apply at www.fortbendisd.com/goldcard.
The active seniors and the students competed in bingo, group-elimination rock, paper scissors, and marshmallow and spaghetti towers -which involved using uncooked pieces of spaghetti, marshmallows and masking tape to build the tallest possible free-standing tabletop tower. There was a tie. The winners built towers measuring 25.5 inches tall. The event also featured a festive photo station for picture-taking.
Game winners received prizes ranging from gift certificates to local restaurants, to free oil changes, and complimentary nail spa services provided by FBISD career and tech students at the Reese Center.
Community member Larry Hawkins won at bingo and received a free oil change. He said his secret was “being fast.” He and his wife have three grown children who graduated from Elkins High School. The couple said they enjoyed themselves and would attend the next event.
“I’m glad this is going on,” Hawkins said. “The students have done very well, and they served me food and snacks. I think this is pretty nice.”
The next event for FBISD senior citizens will be a “Coffee and Conversations” breakfast on Feb. 12 at the historic Landmark Community Center in Missouri City.
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