Paola Middle School students stepped away from class Feb. 10 to make time to visit with residents at Vintage Park as part of their seminar project.

For seminar, the seventh- and eighth-grade students brainstormed possible service projects, presented their ideas and voted for which ones they wanted to do. They also chose their project’s name, Helping Other People Every Day, or HOPE.

In November, members of the class made name tags for Vintage Park residents’ doors and helped decorate the building for the holidays.

Shari Hudgeons, science teacher and HOPE leader, said the students enjoyed their experience in November, but they didn’t have much time to chat with the residents. So last week, students visited again, this time with questionnaires to help them get to know residents. Students learned about residents’ lives, families, vacations and hobbies during their visit.

Only half of the 53 students who signed up to participate went last week, and the other half will visit today.

Hudgeons said students were excited to visit again, as were the residents, who don’t get many younger visitors.

“I like the way they’re talking to people and trying to learn about life,” resident Al Nowasell said.

Hudgeons said the visits are a great way for students to connect with the community, as well as learn about a different generation.

Nowasell and his wife, Opal, said they enjoyed visiting with students and exchanging stories from their childhoods. Although Al grew up in a time when money was scarce and he worked most of his childhood, he and Opal found things in common with today’s young adults.

“This time we actually had time to get to know them,” eighth-grader Meghan Smith said. “It’s fun to learn about a different time.”