School staff, students, and seniors enjoyed a fun and spirited meeting when Virginia second graders connected with their senior pen pals after writing to them throughout the school year!
Several decades ago, finding and writing to a pen pal was a regular thing. Magazines helped teens locate pen pals in other states, and it was an exciting way to make friends in different parts of the country. Over time, our world became “smaller,” and the practice became unnecessary and uncool. It’s so easy to communicate with people across the globe through the internet and social platforms.
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However, as Peter Allen’s 1974 song reminds us, “Everything Old is New Again.”
Teachers at Pearson’s Corner Elementary School (PCES) in Mechanicsville, Virginia, introduced their students to the old tradition and added a fabulous new spin on it in the process. PCES staff paired students with residents at Hermitage Richmond Senior Living, and the students and their senior buddies have exchanged letters since September.
Hermitage resident Daylon McCarty and eight-year-old Yosha Sreeraj met for the first time during the school’s unique field trip. Daylon, who is seven decades older than her pen pal, is a former kindergarten teacher. She expressed her excitement for the project, saying, “I used to teach kindergarten. So I love to see them writing. It just helps them build their writing skills. And they asked me questions, and I asked them what they've been doing.”
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When they met face-to-face, Yosha—clearly an energetic and curious little lady—learned, among other fun facts, that Daylon once lived on the beach. There is so much that the young and old can teach one another!
Teacher Dana Randolph is thrilled with the intergenerational connections her students have formed through this senior pen pal program. She shared, “It gives them a reason to write. A different reason to write. And something that's not just school-related. They're able to make connections with somebody and realize that they can make connections with somebody not their age.”
Wearing their PCES Panther t-shirts, students sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” before reading to the seniors, playing games, and visiting. This was the second year the school’s second graders forged friendships with Hermitage residents. And it’s been great for both young and old. Jennifer Norton, Hermitage’s Director of Lifestyles and Wellness, said, “They have been writing each other back and forth since September. And so now they get to meet each other in person. And it's just, it's a special experience.”
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A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE! Last week we spotlighted how students in Dana Randolph's second grade class at Pearson's Corner Elementary School were pen pals this year with residents at the Hermitage Richmond Assisted Senior Living Community, and how the two groups got to meet in person. pic.twitter.com/f2W7GxVOBb
— Hanover County Public Schools (@HanoverSchools) April 22, 2024
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” Proverbs 17:6
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h/t: CBS 6 News Richmond
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/ Hanover County Public Schools
Hally is a freelance writer, blogger, and mental health advocate. A former school counselor, Hally works for a nonprofit that distributes tax dollars to mental health and prevention education providers that serve her county's kids and families. She's a contributor to a devotional and two essay collectives, and she shares resources and wisdom regarding parenting teens, mental health, faith, adoption, and more at http://www.hallyjwells.com where she strives to "Dig Deep and Reach High." She and her husband have three adult children and one rascally beagle pup. Hally loves travel, her book club sisters, personality tests, and a great glass of iced tea.