Writing project helps reinforce skills and make lifelong bonds

Sparta - For six months, third grade students from Alpine Elementary School and Helen Morgan Elementary School have been putting their writing skills to use by exchanging letters with each other. Last week, the students finally had the opportunity to meet face-to-face at Station Park. The students have been exchanging letters through inter-office school mail, finding out things they have in common, likes and dislikes, all the while honing their penmanship, proofreading and letter-writing skills. “I’ve really enjoyed this assignment because I got to meet someone new from a different school and I think we may get together again,” said Sally Roscoe, a third grader from Alpine Elementary School. “Meeting my pen pal today was great because now I have a new friend. This will make me feel better when I got to Mohawk Avenue School when I get to fifth grade.” Third grade pen pal from Helen Morgan, Sydney Kalafut feels much the same way. “I liked doing this because it was interesting to know what they liked and if we had anything in common,” said Kalafut. “We wrote about our favorite colors, pets, birthdays, where we were born, what subjects we liked in school, sports, siblings, and we exchanged pictures. It made finding her at Station Park a lot easier that way.” The idea for the interschool pen pal project began about four years ago with only one class from each school participating. This year, four classes from each school were involved and the response has been so positive that every year more third grade classes are getting involved. The field day on Tuesday, June 6, is designed to give the children another venue to make new friends and reduce the anxiety of moving up to the Mohawk Avenue School, where the two elementary schools merge. “The kids have a wonderful time with it. They were so excited waiting to receive their letters from Helen Morgan. Plus, it’s a great opportunity for them to see a familiar face and ease the transition into Mohawk Avenue School the following year. It’s a fun, inter-active assignment where the kids really get to know each other and see what they have in common. It creates a nice bond,” said Debbie DiMatteo, third grade teacher at Alpine Elementary School. “I’ve had kids return to me years later and say they are still friends with their third grade pen pal from Helen Morgan.” According to the educators, the project also allowed the children to put into practice what they had learned in the classroom as well as see the different opportunities their skills open. “Penpaling gave the children a reason for writing a letter. Letter-writing skills are part of the Language Arts program, where they learn letter set-up, how to write, proofread and correct their own letters,” said Barbara Kostenko, third grade teacher at Helen Morgan. “In the past, we’ve penpaled with other students across the ocean to help the children visualize the geography, but this assignment being right within their own town really helps them feel a part of a community, which is so important, especially because of their age,” said Stephanie Gardiner, third grade teacher at Alpine Elementary School. “They are so enthusiastic about the assignment and had so much fun with it.” For most of the children involved, aside from reinforcing skills learned, the pen pal project created bonds that will carry through years to come. “I loved writing to my pen pal because I now have another friend that I wouldn’t normally have made. We will probably get together again after today. I feel more comfortable with going to Mohawk Avenue School when I get to fifth grade now that I know someone from Helen Morgan,” said Kaylee Wicker, a third grader from Alpine Elementary School.