First meetings can sometimes be uncomfortable, but finding out that you have something in common can ease the awkwardness. Just ask participants in the Edison Elementary-Lawton High pen pal program.
The two groups of students exchanged letters for months, and had the opportunity to meet face to face when the fourth graders traveled to the high school in early May. Initial shyness quickly melted away as the two groups found common interests.
Zaiden Portillo, 10, and his pen pal Joslynn Wright, 16, discovered that they both knew how to play chess. The duo found a chess set in the Lawton High library and challenged each other to a game.
Who was the better player?
Portillo quickly pointed to Wright and said, “She is.”
The pen pal meeting was the culmination of a months-long program between the two schools, which was started by Edison fourth grade teacher Jessica Moore. Moore, who is in her second year of teaching, said she restarted a book buddies program last year where fourth graders read to second graders. This year, she wanted to take it to a higher level and start building more writing skills. Hence, the pen pal program was born.
Moore said she sent letters to all the secondary schools explaining her idea. Travis Pool, principal at Lawton High School, responded and connected her to Amanda Benke, library media specialist. Moore and Benke then worked out the guidelines for the program. Benke recruited high school students by putting a request into Google Classroom. She said members of the leadership class, along with Ladies of LHS, Gentlemen of LHS and members of the student council “snatched them up.”
“They’ve really gotten invested,” Benke said of the high school students.
The fourth graders started the chain of letters, telling their pen pals a little about themselves and asking some basic questions of the high schoolers, such as their favorite movies and if they have pets. The high school students were asked to respond within a week. Moore said it may take 5-7 days for a letter to come, which is the hardest part for her students.
“They are learning patience,” she said. “I tell them, ‘You just sent the letter yesterday. You have to wait.’”
Moore said many of her students don’t know anyone in high school, so they are like superheroes to the fourth graders.
“When we got the first letter back, the kids were so excited. ‘Mrs. Moore, they wrote me back,’” Moore said. “I’ve been blown away that 40 high school kids are taking the time to write back to my kiddos. I didn’t think I would get that kind of participation. These are not surface letters. They are in-depth. One of my kids told his high school pen pal ‘don’t give up.’”
At least two of the fourth graders admitted to being a little nervous about corresponding with a high school student.
Kameron Moore said he wrote his pen pal about his favorite sports, his favorite candy and his favorite store. His pen pal wrote back and asked him about snacks and hobbies.
“When I got the first letter, I was nervous. I thought I had to write all the things to my pen pal,” Kameron said.
Fourth grader Joanne Crume said she was excited and nervous.
“I hadn’t written anyone at all and it gave me courage to write to some people. “We talked about recess and music, cats, family and friends,” Crume said, adding that she plans to start corresponding with an aunt who lives in Tulsa.
High school students Sam Ronio and Emily Casterline said they both enjoyed writing to their pen pals.
“It started with fourth graders sending us a little letter asking what we like to do for fun and asking for advice for the future. We responded back with fun, interactive questions like would you rather live in the forest or the mountains,” Ronio said.
“It is a way to connect, to give students hope to see themselves in high school. The responses have been funny,” Casterline said. “It gives them something to look forward to, especially if they don’t like school.”
After exchanging letters for about four months, it was time for the pen pals to finally meet. Moore wanted to take her students to the high school, and Benke arranged for the meeting to take place in the library. The elementary students arrived first and nervously took seats in the library, where they ate their lunch.
Once the high school students arrived, they were paired with their pen pals. Some high school students brought small gifts; the fourth graders made key chains that had the names of the pen pals on them and the date.
“They thought they could use them since they are high school students,” said Laura Landoll, Edison fourth grade teacher who also participated in the program.
Brody Thomas, LHS sophomore, brought his pen pal, Jessa Gonzalez, a shaggy pink dog and a bag of Skittles. He knew from her letters that she has a dog, and Skittle is a universal candy.
“I gave him a letter and key chain and stickers,” Gonzalez said. “I’m excited because it’s my first time to meet him. I can’t wait to see him.”
Thomas and Gonzalez said they found out they have something in common — both want to be teachers. Thomas said he wants to be a math teacher, but doesn’t yet know what grade level he prefers. He said interacting with Gonzalez gives him an idea of what students are like at the elementary level.
“I’m just excited to meet her. I wondered what she looked like,” he said. “We ask each other our favorite things.”
Thomas said he enjoyed the pen pal program and would be interested in participating again.
“I thought it would be fun if I can make a kid’s day better,” he said.
Pen pals Julianna Wray, from Edison, and Rinoa Fraley, Lawton High senior, have been pen pals since the program started.
“We didn’t miss any letters,” Wray said.
“What I was looking forward to was just talking and finally knowing who I was talking to all the time,” Fraley said.
“I like how we got to know about our pen pals, how she just got a new tattoo and how she tells me about her style,” Wray said of what the two were talking about.
“I liked that we got to know each other before we met so it is a little less awkward,” Fraley said.
Once lunch was consumed and the pen pals had exchanged their final letters, it was time for some snow cones and a game of bear, hunter, ninja in the courtyard.
Then it was time for the fourth graders to board the bus and return to elementary school. The two sets of students waved goodbye and more than a few hugs were exchanged.
Moore said she hopes to continue the program next year. Although her students learn writing skills, the goal is really connection, she said.
“Connection can go beyond letters. They are giving life skills and goals. They are giving them advice,” Moore said. “I just didn’t think it would be this big. They are creating moments for these kiddos. They will remember that. I am so thankful to Mrs. Benke and students at Lawton High.
“These kids truly have a desire to make my kids’ day,” she said. “The fact these kids really want to do this fills my bucket.”