Many of us can recall writing to a penpal growing up – usually a child our own age from another school – as a fun way for our teachers to introduce us to proper letter writing format and etiquette. In today’s world, where there are countless ways to communicate instantly with any number of people anywhere on Earth, the art of getting to know someone by way of tactile correspondence is quickly disappearing.
Robyn Bulicki is a third-grade teacher at Countryside Elementary School who still sees value in her students learning these skills. Last year she came up with a clever twist on the old penpal formula and had her children write to local seniors who agreed to act as her students’ “grandpals.”
“We wanted to connect our third graders with another part of the community and to help them practice their writing skills,” said Bulicki. “We have some kids who are reluctant to write, and since it’s so special to get actual mail, we thought it would be really fun for them.”
For a number of her students, these were the first physical letters they had ever received. The idea was such a hit it was incorporated by the other third-grade classrooms at the school and is back for an encore performance this year.
On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Countryside hosted its second Grandpal Meet and Greet, where students had an opportunity to meet their grandpal in person and learn a little more about them.
“I think it’s really benefiting both sides. The kids are learning about a different part of the community, and it’s just brightening someone’s day. It’s been really nice,” said Bulicki.
In order to get the right people involved, Bulicki says she first reached out to retired Countryside teachers, who in turn reached out to friends of theirs who they thought might be interested in participating as well. Last year she estimates they had about 30 seniors get involved and this year the group has grown closer to 40 as word spread.
Letters are exchanged monthly and the school has scheduled four in-person get-togethers where students enjoy snacks, games and conversation with their grandpals. According to Bulicki, Tuesday’s visit was financed through grant funding from the Mt. Laurel Education Association.
This first meeting was purely a get-to-know-you kind of affair, however subsequent visits will incorporate some kind of joint community service project between the seniors and students.
Two returning grandpals are Mt. Laurel residents Chuck and Katie Everman, who were paired up this year with 8-year-old third-graders Dylan Wolfeld, Alex Bovarth and Ben Lemonakis. The couple joined last year when their own granddaughter Adeline was a third grader at the school. In the spirit of the activity, they were paired up with students they had no familial connection to.
“We had a lot of fun last year and I think it’s a great program,” said Chuck about what brought them back for another year.
“I think the kids get to know what it’s like to have experience in life and learn about different aspects of life and we get to keep young because we get to be with the kids,” said Katie.
Their young counterparts were equally excited to meet their new pals in person for the first time after exchanging letters.
“They’re great,” said Wolfeld, who went on to share what he felt was the most exciting new fact he had learned about his new friends. “They both ride motorcycles!”
