KENNEBUNK — Senior citizens sitting down for a warm Thanksgiving dinner at the Middle School of the Kennebunks enjoyed not only some delicious food Wednesday, but also precious time with their grandchildren who are also eighth grade students.

Nearly 200 local grandparents and their friends were served turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and all the usual holiday platters in the MSK cafeteria, all the while listening to students give heartfelt musical performances.

“I think it’s a fantastic thing that they’ve done for us,” said Helen Gauthier, a grandmother who attended the event to visit her grandson, Jonah Gauthier. Gauthier has gone to a previous MSK Thanksgiving dinner in support of another grandchild, and said she was happy to go again.

Students gave separate acts, including a Mozart tune on piano, a duet rendition of Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance,” songs sung by the school’s sixth grade chorus group and jazz band instrumentals.

“It’s nice because we get to give back doing something we love,” said Kyra Schwartzman, an eighth grade clarinet player in the jazz band, who along with her fellow classmates covered the Beatles’ “Get Back,” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”

Schwartzman said the band had two weeks to practice the songs, but that it went smoothly because of their comfort with one another from being together for a year and a half.

“I think it’s fantastic that they’re performing for us,” said Lucy MacLeod, a grandmother who was there for her grandson, Cole MacLeod, at the dinner, which was paid for through a $1,750 grant from the Biddeford Savings Bank.

While the food and chance to see relatives drew students and their grandparents to the event, Paul Bibeau, a student team leader at MSK, said both groups gained something from the get-together.

“It reminds students that there’s generations other than their own, and the same goes for the senior citizens,” Bibeau said, adding the dinner is an educational tool to teach respect and an opportunity to give thanks.

He added that intergenerational relationships are important, and teenagers are much more knowledgeable about that than his generation was.

Bibeau led a game of Thanksgiving trivia, where attendees were asked such questions as: Where did Thanksgiving originate? Answer: America; Where did turkeys originate? Answer: North and Central America; and which president declared Thanksgiving a national holiday? Answer: George Washington.

Bibeau said the budget for similar events at MSK has been very tight this year, and the school receiving a grant gave him relief that the event could continue for its 20th year.

The MSK Thanksgiving tradition was originally held as a breakfast with only some of the eighth grade class participating. As the years went by, the crowds grew larger and the school decided to turn it into a luncheon.

Amanda Arlororuo, an MSK cafeteria chef, said this was her sixth year working at the dinner, and her fellow cooks spent the last week prepping the trays of food.

With the stress of multitasking and hundreds of people awaiting their meals, Arlororuo rushed around the kitchen finishing up the final preparations.

Arlororuo’s team made sure the dishes were ready for the day, but the eighth grade class set the tables, silverware and served the drinks and food to their families.

“It feels wonderful to cook these dinners for seniors,” she said, “but it’s our day to sit back and let the students serve.”

— Staff Writer Matt Kiernan can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 326 or mkiernan@journaltribune.com.