Pen pals keep art of letter-writing alive

Seventh-graders at Redwood School are excited about a new project that allows them to interact with seniors in our community through letter writing.

The Pen Pals Project, a popular intergenerational program, began in 1984 at Morris Elementary School in McKinleyville and has expanded in both Del Norte and Humboldt counties to almost 10 schools and more than 200 school students. School-age students exchange letters throughout the school year with older adults who volunteer for the project, and then they all meet face-to-face at the end of the school year. Here is a first-hand account of the recent meeting of pen pals:

After winding down the spring sports and music programs, completing the last answer on the state year-end tests and putting down their No. 2 pencils to rest, the Redwood School seventh-grade students in Megan Pucillo-Slayton’s English class were finally going to meet their senior pen pals with whom they had been corresponding for nine months. The Multipurpose Room was spiffed up and signs welcoming the pen pals adorn­ed the walls. Cakes and juice were displayed on the side tables and project supplies were neatly organized and ready for use.

Excitement was in the air as the seniors entered the room. Both students and seniors completed and displayed their name tags and then located their corresponding pen pals. For most students, this was the first time they would be meeting their senior counterpart. One exception, though, was Mason Molina, who had requested that his grandmother, Ruth York, be his pen pal.

After chatting and getting to know each other, it was time for cake and punch. The students served the pen pals before getting their own refreshments and sat to eat with them while continuing with their conversations. There was never a shortage of words since they had gotten to know each other over the year through their letters.

“Line up,” Pucillo-Slayton said. Quickly, four lines of students were stretched across the room completely filling up the empty space and they proceeded to dance the Macarena to entertain the seniors. This was a big hit, and the students glowed as the seniors’ applause filled the room.

Lastly, the students worked with their senior pen pals to create bookmarks. Student bookmarks with their picture, name and a short poem displayed were presented to their senior pen pals, and then students proceeded to help the seniors make bookmarks to share with them.

All too soon, the bell rang signaling the end of the school day and the party. Hugs and promises to keep in touch were seen and heard throughout the room before students headed for the buses, and seniors returned to their cars.

Connecting, conversing and interacting across the generations was such a rewarding experience both for the seniors and the students. “I thought they would be really old, but they’re not!” observed one student. Young at heart, active and enjoyable to spend time with—all descriptors of the senior pen pals.