Photo Gallery: 'Shining Stars' Visit Senior Center

In the calendar of annual events that take place between third-graders in Mrs. Ambrosch's class at Ledyard Center School and their "Elder Friends" at the Ledyard Senior Center, the St. Patrick's Day pizza party is a highlight.

Ambrosch, who has been running the "Shining Stars" program for 10 years, said the children and seniors are paired up in the fall, and get together several times during the school year. There was a New England products event in the fall that Ambrosch said involved a lot of apple pies; a holiday carol sing and luncheon, and a rain forest ice cream social coming up, at which all the toppings -- chocolate, pineapple, coconut -- are produced in the rain foerst. 

Food plays an important part in the program, and Thursday's pizza party was no exception. But Ambrosch said it isn't all about food. "The children stay in touch with their Elder Friends through the year. They write them newsy letters." And they obviously have a great time when they get together. 

"We had math CMTs this morning, and the kids were so excited about coming here that I didn't know if they would be able to focus on the test," Ambrosch said, adding that they did fine. "So this was sort of their reward."