More than 50 local senior volunteers visited Hamilton High School on Tuesday, October 21 for the Seniors & Students Annual Fall Kick Off Event. Volunteers celebrated the start of the 2025-26 school year and heard from guest speakers including Hamilton School District Superintendent Paul Mielke, Ph.D. about how impactful this long-standing program is for students.
Student Council members from Templeton Middle School volunteered their time to socialize with seniors and serve light refreshments during the event.
“Senior Cafe is truly a gift to our students,” explained Marcy Elementary School Counselor Abby Much who spoke to the volunteers in attendance. “The students greatly benefit from the connections they get to make with you. This helps them foster more social skills, gets them to learn how to work with others and allows them to build friendships beyond their classroom,” added Much.
Seniors & Students is a volunteer program designed to recruit and place volunteers age 55 and older in the Hamilton School District. Volunteers work with teachers and other staff to support student learning. The two main components of the program are Senior Cafes and the Pen Pal Program. Volunteers gather with students every other week during Senior Cafes at Lannon, Maple Avenue, Marcy and Woodside elementary schools. Most of these gatherings take place during the students’ lunch period. The Pen Pal project involves senior volunteers corresponding with hundreds of fourth grade students across all four elementary schools in the Hamilton School District.
“Your efforts build confidence and connection,” shared Superintendent Paul Mielke, Ph.D. “Every time you read with a child, listen patiently or offer encouragement, you help students believe in themselves and know that they matter.”
Much told senior volunteers how the time they spend with students is very important. “It may just seem like you are playing a simple board game with them,” she said. “However, you are doing much more than that. You are helping them learn skills that include taking turns, listening to directions and learning how to lose, because we can’t always win. The connections students make with you helps them socially and emotionally.”
If you are interested in learning more about the Seniors & Students Program or becoming a volunteer, please contact Seniors & Students Coordinator Kathy Wagner at (262)-246-1973 or wagnka@hamilton.k12.wi.us.