Students bring cheer to senior residents

Second-graders from St. Gerald School in Ralston brought Christmas cheer to New Cassel Retirement Center residents and family members Dec. 1 as they performed "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

A standing-room-only crowd of about 150 people watched the play directed by second-grade teacher JoAnn Wanek. The Omaha center provided refreshments, students delivered hand-made Christmas cards to residents, and everyone sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

"This act of kindness by the students, teachers and staff at St. Gerald School provided memories for our residents," said Cynthia Petrich, president of the New Cassel Foundation.

"It was a time to reminisce as they remembered either their teaching days or the plays their own children performed," she said. "The residents and families smiled, laughed and cried."