Memoir Project

 It is time for one of our favorite programs of the year – our (third annual) Mabel Kay Memoir Project.

(Our favorite quote from one of our memoir participants last year --"I have two new boyfriends" ��).

Mabel Kay’s Memoir Project is a wonderful and rewarding collaboration with Haddonfield Memorial High School (Pictures from past years are attached.  I know several senior/student teams that are still in touch.

What is the Memoir Project?
You will have the opportunity to document your own life story (with a little help from students in Mrs. Maiese 9th grade English classes…they ask, you answer, they write and deliver to you a hard copy memoir).  We provide you with one hard copy memoir, and you are welcome to purchase additional copies (usually around $12) for family gifts and keepsakes.  We do a memoir handoff event just before the winter holidays, date TBD. 

Intergenerational programming is one of our goals at Mabel Kay – such a great way for kids to learn from you and you to learn from the kids 

This project has caught the attention of our school district and other regional school districts, and even attracted NBC10 here our first year (they were supposed to come last year but the Phillies big run ended up taking priority – I guess we’ll let that slide).  Perhaps this year?  

We anticipate a strong response – please read the registration information and only register if you know you can make all three dates (out of fairness to other seniors and out of fairness to our 9th graders who are getting graded on this project). 

 MEMOIR RSVP rules:

  • Please email or call Sheri to register (email is preferable)
  • When you reply, please indicate if you have a session preference or if either session is fine (dates/times below)
  • Assuming weather is temperate, we will hold interviews outside in Mabel Kay’s backyard
  • If you participated last year, you are not eligible to participate this year unless we happen to have extra space
  • Please note that if we have an abundance of seniors signing up, preference will be given to Haddonfield residents


Session 1
Tuesdays October 3, 17, 31 - 10-10:50am

Session 2Tuesdays October 3, 17, 31 -1:45-2:45pm

 

Write on and have fun!


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2022 Memoirs: December 21st was Memoir Handoff Day, the culmination of the months-long project where ninth graders from Mrs. Maeise’s English classes at Haddonfield Memorial High School came back to the senior center for their final visit to present to their senior the written memoir that they have worked on since October. The students interviewed their senior and then wrote narratives based on their interviews, added in photos, and presented their hardcover keepsake.  (Our favorite quote from today from one of our seniors…”I have two new boyfriends!)

There were lots of hugs, a few tears, and the knowledge that bonds were formed between the generations. Inter-generational programming is one of our goals at Mabel Kay - there are just so many benefits. Beyond the transfer of knowledge, this structure fosters reciprocal learning between different generations and helps to develop understanding, patience and communication between young and old.

We are very grateful for Mrs. Maeise’s steadfast enthusiasm and ability to foster in her students a love and respect for seniors, and to the administrators at Haddonfield School District for giving the green light on this program.

We are also very grateful to Amanda Hall Studios LLC who generously donated her time and skills to photograph portraits of our seniors.

Finally, we are immensely thankful for Michelle Cassin at The KMC Group who donated the printing costs for these memoirs. We are so grateful she chose us out of all the worthy causes out there.

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