As energetic preschoolers wave rainbow-colored scarves during their daily music and movement class, their audience isn’t just teachers — elderly nursing home residents also wave scarves to the music and laugh as they watch the kids dance.
Since 2019, nursing home Grace Skilled Nursing and Therapy has partnered with Norman Public Schools to offer a pre-K program. It’s an intergenerational school, where older generations create learning opportunities for students and younger generations provide companionship for nursing home residents.
The elderly residents at Grace Skilled Nursing and Therapy, nicknamed “grandfriends,” visit the kids daily. Grandfriends join for one-on-one reading, music and movement class, art projects, bingo, science experiments and more.
Renee Surowicz, the program teacher, came out of retirement to teach at Grace six years ago. Surowicz said she wanted to return to teaching and chose Grace because it would be a new experience and she believed in promoting intergenerational connections.
“It does make children more caring and accepting, very empathetic,” Surowicz said.
Berna Dean Terry and child at Grace's Intergenerational Pre-K Program on March 6, 2026.
Surowicz said interacting with their grandfriends helps kids learn to be around people who have disabilities and not be afraid of elderly people. It also provides opportunities for more adult attention, which students love, she said.
However, grandfriends may benefit from the program more than the students, Surowicz said, because it gives them something to look forward to everyday. Grandfriends interact with students during daily organized activities and can look through the large classroom viewing windows anytime.
Donna Walters, a nursing home resident, said she reads to the students nearly every day, and it reminds her of reading to her own children.
“I like to ad lib a little bit and point things out to them in the books, and their faces brighten up,” Walters said.
Donna Walters at Grace's Intergenerational Pre-K Program on March 6, 2026.
Velta Barnett, another resident, said she does art projects with the students and that she enjoys watching them because they’re creative and smart.
“They’re very entertaining,” Barnett said. “They love everybody.”
Lori Branson, the program liaison, coordinates activities with the grandfriends and was there when the partnership between Grace Skilled Nursing and Therapy and NPS began in 2019.
Surowicz follows NPS curriculum, and Branson said she helps create activities with grandfriends to complement classroom instruction, including a mock Kentucky Derby where students race horses made of pool noodles while grandfriends spectate wearing elaborate homemade hats.
“I’m such an advocate for this program … it creates joyful experiences that benefit both. It does help the children build social skills, and then it gives that fun sense of purpose for the adults,” Branson said.
Branson said she has seen the effect the program has on grandfriends, who are often long-term residents. After being with students, she said previously isolated and lethargic residents are more motivated to socialize and leave their rooms.
“(The students) just bring so much joy and happiness,” Branson said. “They bring purpose to those residents, for them to do something and (have) something to look forward to. It’s just very special.”
Branson said dealing with the death of residents hasn’t been an issue for students so far. She said the students are so young that when they hear a grandfriend is in the hospital, they tend to forget.
If there is a death, Branson said the school notifies parents in case students ask about that grandfriend. School counselors are available to students, but Branson said they haven’t been needed.
“It’s never been an issue, .... one day it will be because we will have one of our main grandfriends pass away, but as of now, it’s never been a really a big issue,” Branson said.
Sarah Orr teaches kids at Grace's Intergenerational Pre-K Program on March 6, 2026.
Jaylynn Richardson, NPS early childhood and elementary programs coordinator, said Grace Skilled Nursing and Therapy built classrooms and other facilities to NPS’ specifications to create a fully functioning pre-K. This year’s class has 17 students, but the program can take up to 40 students, she said.
Richardson said registration is open to any Norman family, and kids can be placed up until all spots are filled. She said it’s common for former students and their families to return and visit their grandfriends.
“It's such a unique opportunity,” Richardson said. “I always like to say that once families go and see Grace, it captures their heart.”
This story was edited by Natalie Armour. Ryan Little and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
