KENNEBUNK – Proving that good things come to those who wait, the Middle School of the Kennebunks hosted a springtime Thanksgiving dinner last week for seniors and community members.
The Middle School of the Kennebunks hosted its annual community thanksgiving lunch on Wednesday, May 29. While the luncheon is traditionally held in the fall to coincide with the holiday, pertussis outbreaks within the school led the school to postpone.
“When there were just so many sick students, it just made sense to postpone to ensure the health of the seniors,” said Middle School Principal Matty Bouchard. “We’ve never done this in the spring before, but we’re so pleased with the turnout from the community.”
The yearly event is sponsored by Biddeford Savings Bank, who not only fund the meal but also volunteer during the meal, with members of staff manning the dessert table, with treats baked by the parents of students.
Students of the middle school worked diligently to plan and execute the event. The students were responsible for many facets of the day, from the big decisions of menu planning and designing the invitations that were sent out to the community to the minutiae of setting the table and handing out construction paper markers for the games of bingo.
Students were bustling throughout the meal, some students responsible for refilling waters and beverages for guests while others dispensed rolls and checked in with tables to ensure everyone was satisfied.
Throughout the luncheon, students provided entertainment for attendees, with performances in music and dance. The middle school jazz band performed four songs during the event, including a crowd-pleasing rendition of “A Horse With No Name” by America.
“It’s great to see the seniors from our community enjoying the talent we have here at MSK,” said Sharon Greenglass, eighth grade math teacher. “You can see in their faces how impressed they are that people so young can perform so well.”
For the bingo games, eighth grade student Amede Olise kept attendees laughing with the witty and inventive calling of bingo numbers, branching out from the traditional announcing with “G20, that’s G as in gargoyle,” or “I32, that’s I as in iodine.”
“She’s a riot,” said Greenglass with a laugh during bingo. “There’s a definite reason why she’s the one calling it.”
Her remarks added a layer of fun to the game, played by students and seniors alike. Her description that garnered the greatest response came midway through the game, when “I as in ‘intramural basketball,’” left the whole room uproarious.
While attendees for the luncheon were primarily grandparents for students, according to Greenglass there are still a number of members of the senior community who enjoy coming to this free luncheon every year.
“We have members of the community who never miss a year, so we were glad to see that so many still came out this year even though it was held in the spring instead of fall,” Greenglass said. “We pair the senior4s from the community with one of our students so that they all have a chance to interact.”
Around the room throughout the event grandparents and grandchildren could be seen laughing and smiling with each other, enjoying the music and food and working together on their bingo boards. Hope Poore, who had earlier performed “La Vie en Rose” for the event was seated at a table with both sets of her grandparents, Rodney and Karen Poore and Susan and Alan Marston. Gary and Angela Heywood smiled affectionately at their granddaughter Ella Richardson as they excitedly checked their bingo boards for a winning combination.
“The best thing about this day is seeing the students interact with our seniors,” said Principal Bouchard, surveying the room. “This is what it’s all about, and it’s pretty cool to see them all enjoying the meal together.”

Contact Staff Writer Abigail Worthing at news@kennebunkpost.com.

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