Havre schools honoring the work of the senior citizens

This Sunday, the halls of Havre Middle School will be filled with community members of all ages as Havre Public Schools thanks the senior citizens of the community for all they have done for the schools.

The Salute to Seniors starts with doors opening at noon and brunch starting at 12:30 p.m in the Havre Middle School cafeteria.

This event is held to honor the senior citizens in the community who volunteer and contribute to the schools. Some of these volunteers, like community member and former substitute teacher Priscilla Presnell, volunteer because they like being around the kids and watching them succeed.

“I read with them, help them with math, put bulletin boards up, help with writing, whatever the teacher asks of me,” Presnell said.

This is the 28th year the Salute to Seniors will be held, said Shelley Southworth, the secretary for the Havre district superintendent.

Tiffany Olson, who is in charge of Community Education for Havre Public Schools, said that the school district has been trying to get the word out about the event by having the students bring invitations home, letting the school volunteers know about the event, and sending invitations to the members of the 62+ program operated by the school district.

Bear Paw Development Corp. Executive Director Paul Tuss, who has attended previous years’ Salute to Seniors, said the event is “incredibly well-attended” and it helps to “bridge the gap between the generations.”

The brunch will be served by district employees and students and will feature student artwork in the entrance, student-made placemats on the tables and student musical performances after the brunch.

The featured choirs will be the Havre High School Hi-Liters, Belles Voix, saxophone choir, clarinet choir and the Havre Middle School Treble-aires.

Tuss said a definite highlight of the event is the vocal and band performances. He said the seniors at the event appreciate the “incredible talent of the music performances.”

Olson said they want to get the word out about this important event. She said she is happy that “every year it gets a little bigger.”