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Students Bridge the Generation Gap With New Neighbors As ACES Prepares To Open New School

May 23rd, 2019


Whitney Center President and CEO Mike Rambarose and Frances “Bitsie” Clark greet residents and students Thursday at a “Getting to Know You” luncheon at the Whitney Center Thursday.

(North Haven, CT. May 23, 2019) Highlighted by music and dancing performances, students and staff from Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) Whitney High School North and Whitney High School East / West / CREATE joined residents and staff from the Whitney Center for a “Getting to Know You” luncheon today at the not-for-profit senior living community in Hamden. The gathering brought multiple generations together to meet and get to know each other in anticipation of the ACES schools’ impending move to 130 Leeder Hill Drive in September. The new school, that will be named ACES Whitney Academy, is right across from the Whitney Center.

“This is a fantastic way of getting to know one another now that we will be neighbors. What is obvious is, that regardless of the age, this group has a lot more in common than differences,’ said Thomas Danehy, ACES Executive Director. “It’s a great opportunity for the students to learn about history from those how actually lived it while the senior residents have opportunities to volunteer to share their life-long experiences while hearing about how students are shaping today’s world. There are many common ties between ACES and the residents at the Whitney Center. Some of the residents are former educators or administrators in the ACES organization.”

The interactions were already occurring as the group shared a lunch prepared by ACES Whitney School North’s Student Culinary Arts program. Welcoming the more than 100 attendees was Mike Rambarose, President and CEO of the Whitney Center who shared that the Whitney Center is heavily immersed in the community and its new neighbors are truly welcome.

“We are built on community involvement so having a neighbor here like the new ACES school will allow us to much more opportunities to engage as a community,’ said Rambarose. “I think the relationships we can forge with the students through volunteer opportunities on their campus and here at the Whitney Center is very exciting.”

The luncheon concept came from the Whitney Center’s interest group, named “Creating Connections”, and is directed by Meryl Mernon and aided by Frances “Bitsie” Clark. Menon served ACES as an educational consultant for eight years and Clark was instrumental in helping preserve the iconic Little Theatre on Lincoln Street, which ACES operates and is a staple for ACES ECA performances.

“The group works with many outside groups such as a local charter school, an African-American women’s club, and of course now ACES,’ said Clark.  “We are always looking for other ways we can get involved with the community and this just another outstanding way to learn from each other. There have been many questions about the school and now you can just feel the excitement about the students being this close.”

The Whitney Center is a senior adult living facility with more than 230 apartments and includes a nursing home. The facility focuses on independence for the individual and well-being in a vibrant cultural atmosphere. The not-for-profit “Life Plan Community” facility provides a full continuum of care including independent living, assisted living, rehabilitation care, skilled nursing, and memory care.

About ACES:

Area Cooperative Educational Service’s (ACES) is to transform lives through education, innovation, and leadership. One of six Connecticut regional educational service centers, ACES is the regional educational services center for the twenty-five communities in New Haven and is both a school district and a non-profit services agency. ACES serves 2,300 students from fifty-seven communities throughout Connecticut at its three magnet schools and nine special education schools. ACES service divisions include international educational programs and services, technology, transportation, translation, behavior services and autism programs, extension therapy services (occupational and physical therapy), assistive technology, collaborative programs, professional development, human resources and financial services, and ACCESS, a vocational and life skills program for developmentally and physically challenged adults. ACES also runs the Open Choice program for New Haven County as well as a magnet school parent choice program for its Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School and Thomas Edison Middle School. Additionally, ACES runs the Middlesex County Early Head Start Partnership program. For additional information, go to www.aces.org.

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