Edwardsville High School Welcomes Senior Citizens to Connect with Students at Breakfast Event

Seniors and students shared tables at EHS, building community across generations.

Sydney Sinks, News Reporter

Apr 17, 2026 10:05 AM Apr 17, 2026 10:30 AM

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EDWARDSVILLE - Senior citizens connected with students at Edwardsville High School’s inaugural Senior Breakfast.

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On Friday, April 17, 2026, senior community members were invited to the high school for a free breakfast, where they also heard updates about the district and enjoyed orchestra and choir performances by students. Administrators expressed their gratitude for these community members and were eager to welcome them to the newly renovated high school.

“It’s special,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Allen Duncan. “This group has a voice. They’ve been here. They’ve helped build the district, and we want to keep them engaged.”

Many of the seniors were Edwardsville High School alumni, and a few were former educators. It was a special homecoming for these community members, who enjoyed the breakfast and looked forward to hearing the district’s updates.

Gloria, who taught second grade for 20 years in the district, noted that she is still passionate about education and wants to see the district continue to grow and improve. She was also excited to see the new Edwardsville High School commons.

“I’m interested in what still goes on in the district,” she said. “I taught here, and I retired from here, and I still love it. I just like to investigate the high school. We knew some changes have been made. It’s great.”

Kathy, a former special education teacher and speech therapist, echoed her. She shared that she has grandchildren in the schools, which is one reason why she decided to attend.

“I also came to support Dr. Duncan,” added Carol, a former Columbus Elementary School teacher. “The district’s been in a lot of ups and downs for a while, and what I see him doing is just phenomenal, reaching out to many different groups to build community, to keep our schools the best they can be.”

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The morning was equally meaningful for students. Miles, a freshman, was chosen to join the event as a student helper. He sat with community members and answered any questions they had about the school. For him, it was a reminder that the school and the community are partners.

“I’m really glad that I got elected, because now I get to meet a bunch of new people and just feel more involved,” he said. “I’m really grateful because I can just experience this with the community, and it’s just really amazing.”

Edwardsville High School Principal Alex Fox was pleased with the “diverse” group of students who were chosen to participate, ranging from athletes to Student Council members and more.

He added that the breakfast was a great opportunity for the kids to connect with their elders and bring a sense of community to the district and Edwardsville.

“It’s always good to connect with generations, to get younger folks out here talking with some of these folks who are retired,” Fox said. “It’s a coordinated effort to make sure that we are tying in all members of the community to the school district. I think everybody has a level of value and brings a different perspective to the district that allows us to grow and get better.”

As administrators, Board of Education members, and students mingled with the community members, Duncan was pleased to see valuable connections being made. He noted that engaging with the community is a big part of the district’s values.

He hopes the breakfast was a positive opportunity for seniors to engage with the district, and he looks forward to more experiences like this.

“It keeps us to our roots. It helps us stay focused, helps us keep our foundation. Edwardsville was built by people that are here today,” he said. “I just want people to know that we as a district are very thankful for our taxpayers. We’re very thankful for our parents who trust us with their kids. We have kids running this thing, and that is something that I don’t know happens everywhere. We have a special group here in District #7. It’s just a special place. We’ve got great things happening.”