Key Club connects with elementary schoolers
The first thing that hits you is the sound of laughter. A group of kids squat on the room’s tile floor in a crooked circle, chatting with each other over every single thought that pops into their heads. What these kids lack in size, they make up for in enthusiasm — especially on Wednesdays, when their friends come to join them. Wenatchee High School’s Key Club shares a tight bond with the children within Washington Elementary’s daycare program, during a time and place where age no longer matters.
Key Club is part of an internationally recognized organization that focuses on service within the community. The idea to help the daycare began with a collaboration in September between the officers of the club and Washington Elementary lead childcare provider Corinne Cox. Since then, the event has bloomed into a one-on-one experience between high school and elementary students.
“[High schoolers] have so much influence over these kids,” junior Cameron Kunz said. Kunz is the incoming president of WHS’ Key Club. “You might not realize it, but they look up to us and what our choices are.”
Junior Isabelle Dressel sits with a Washington Elementary School student.
Every year, the club chooses a focus inside the community to dedicate themselves to for the rest of the year. However, this program is one that Cox hopes will stay for a long time. Cox pointed out that many of the kids in the daycare program have busy parents and get less interaction, so this program is especially beneficial for them.
“I think it’s really nice to have older and younger kids interact with each other,” Cox said. “And the kids just love it. They can be around older kids like them, it’s a good bond. Lots of the kids say that when they get to high school, they want to be in Key Club.”
Activities range from reading to playing card games to flinging around a colorful parachute. While each child may have a different favorite, all of them have one thing in common: ask them about their time with the club, and you’ll receive a flood of eager responses.
“My favorite part is playing the games — and getting to hang out with the Key Club,” said Morgan, a Washington Elementary second-grader. “We get to hang out with grown-ups! And we play card games like Don’t Say It,” added Madison, a first-grader at the school.
Not only has this been to the advantage of the elementary schoolers, but it has been a learning experience for the high schoolers and adults as well. Key Club adviser Diane Owen has seen the effects of this bond on both sides. From thank-you notes to a poster to the sheer amount of dedication both sides put in, the positive output demonstrated between the groups is overwhelming.
“I just hope that they have fun, because that’s really what life is all about,” Owen said. “It shows the kids that the older kids aren’t scary. The key clubbers really know how important it is to form relationships. What I’ve learned from this is seeing how easy it is to start something that becomes bigger that what you envisioned.”
