Besser Senior Living resident reads to Hinks School students

ALPENA, Mich. –  The pandemic has effected education in many ways, but the staff at Hinks School teamed up with a special guest to celebrate reading month and all that was needed was a good book and the Google Meet app.

While March signifies reading month, some schools throughout the U.S. have cancelled celebration activities.

Hinks School principal Jean Kowalski said she wanted to be creative to keep the kids inspired.

“This year is a little different obviously, and one evening I was thinking about that and I thought if there were people in care homes and things like that may want to share their stories or share their lives with our kids, it would be super easy now,” said Kowalski.

That’s where Miss Wilma Petrik comes in.

“Wonderful, it was a wonderful experience,” said Pertik.

The Besser Senior Living resident read to a Hinks kindergarten class, and she definitely has the experience.

“I taught kindergarten for many years and I like to read, kindergarten was as the kindergartners would say,  the funnest,”

said Petrik.

Kowalski agrees.

“No one even had to tell us she was a former teacher because of the way she interacted with the children,” said Kowalski.

Petrik said it was a pleasure to get back into her role and loves that march promotes the joy of reading.

“Reading is your life,” said Petrik.

Besser Senior Living said that they will continue to offer volunteers to read to students throughout the month.

The principal says they are working to arrange for additional volunteers to read to more classes virtually.

If any organization is interested in reading to a class you can contact Hinks School.