Genesis: Connecting School and Retirement Communities
Bridging Learning, Employability and Citizenship Through a Single Partnership

How a High School Career Academy, A Special Needs Career and Transition Program And a Retirement Community Learned to Share Resources, Enhance Opportunities for Work, and Enrich their Respective Communities

Purpose of the Partnership
There were specific and concrete goals for this partnership as well as more subtle, long-range, interpersonal objectives:

• To improve student achievement;
• To increase opportunities for student career awareness, job training and employment;
• To encourage and enhance inter-generational relationships and understanding between students and the residents of Greenspring Village;
• To exchange and share available human and material resources that will enrich the educational community as well as the retirement community.

Inherent in this business partnership are very concrete benefits for students and Fairfax County Public School staff

• Involvement in projects and work opportunities with practical implications;
• Inclusion as part of a "team" of Greenspring Village employees providing services to the retirement community;
• A chance to teach and share professional expertise within the retirement community;
• Outlet for creative talents for students and staff,
• Opportunity to assist in the coordination and implementation of special events at GSV such as the fashion show and annual gala;
• Participation in Greenspring Village sponsored events.

The expectation is that the associations and opportunities created by this partnership would benefit students served by the school programs involved, employees of the respective communities, the retired residents of Greenspring Village, and the organizational missions as well. Each party agreed to fulfill the terms of the agreement to the extent that it was possible, within the context of the respective mission of each organization.

Authors:
Manny Bartolotta,
Career Experience Specialist, West Potomac Academy, Fairfax County Public Schools,
6500 Quander Road
Alexandria, Virginia, USA 22307
703-718-2753
703-718-2760 fax
esbartolottap@fcps.ed

Theresa Bertoski
Greenspring Village Retirement Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator
Greenspring Village
7470 Spring Village Drive
Springfield, VA 22150
703-313-7800, ext. 4780
703-923-4651-fax
tberkoskl@ericksorimail.com

Judy Larsen
Career and Transition Services Representative, Fairfax County Public Schools
Virginina Hills Administrative Center
6520 Diana Lane
Alexandria, VA 223 10
703-329-7311
Judy. Larsen@fcps. edu