EAST PALESTINE – A tree is only as strong as its roots and a house is only as strong as its foundation. The same can be said for a school district, and honoring that sentiment is the idea behind the Senior Citizen Breakfast planned for Oct. 23 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the East Palestine Elementary Cafeteria.

“We believe that a strong school district is closely tied to a strong community. Hosting the Senior Citizen Breakfast is a true demonstration of this bond,” said East Palestine superintendent James Rook. “We are proud of our students and staff who are always ready to be active participants, showing their deep appreciation for the community members who have paved the way for them here in East Palestine.”

The district explained that the breakfast is not only an opportunity for East Palestine’s senior citizens to enjoy a meal but also a chance to hear updates about our district and interact with some of the district’s amazing students who are eager to share their projects and learn from the experiences of the village’s older population.

“Beyond the great food and fellowship, this event is a wonderful opportunity for me to provide a district update and pass along information regarding the positive momentum happening within the East Palestine schools,” Rook said. “Attendees can also anticipate some memorable interactions with our students — a highlight that will remind us of the importance of the connections within our community.”

The breakfast is the latest event from the district to boost community engagement and strengthen the bonds Rook mentioned.

East Palestine Middle School recently launched a “Learn to Teach, Teach to Learn” where EPMS students in grades 5-8 learn a craft after school in the afternoon and then invite community members back that evening to share what they’ve learned. The students have walked community members through making fabric keychain wristlets and strawberry jam and have taught Canva design and Cricut crafting. The free community classes are held once a month.

The school also offers a new course at the high school meant to develop leadership skills and provide students with a fully immersive experience in local projects in East Palestine. The course is called Project EP.

To register for the breakfast, call 330-426-5302 or email allison.oltmann@myepschools.org. To learn more about established community engagement initiatives and new activities and ideas, visit the district’s facebook page at facebook.com/EastPalestineCitySchools.