Dear Pen Pal: Writing project links students by ink, not email

The joy of writing and receiving letters might be the most tragic victim of the digital age. Clicking open an email doesn’t have the same magic as unfolding a handwritten letter from a loved one.

Now, in the age of instant messaging, two Catholic school teachers are trying to bring pen pals back in fashion. 

Grade 3 teachers Gema Chavez (Queen of All Saints Elementary in Coquitlam) and Elena Mobilio (Holy Cross Elementary in Burnaby) came up with the idea to give their students pen pals while they were discussing school experiences that can help students proclaim their faith.

Decades ago, the idea of local Catholic students having “pen pals” was ordinary, but for the teachers, the tradition is more than just a nostalgic anachronism.

Chavez says giving students pen pals opens up a world of educational possibilities, and the letters were a perfect way to start conversations with students about how God gives us gifts and talents to serve others.

“Students spent time praying for one another, sharing their life and faith experiences,” she said. They were also an opportunity to send each other small gifts.

“In today’s world, people are used to receiving messages via technology,” Chavez said. “For the students to receive their own mail and open their own letter was incredibly special to witness. They were equally excited to write and seal their own letters to their pen pals.”

Queen of All Saints student Kyle Wong said, “It was a great experience getting to know someone from a different school.” He was especially excited when he got to meet his pen pal, Yohan, at a mid-year track meet.

Teachers Chavez and Mobilio, who have known each other since they were both students at Notre Dame Regional Secondary in Vancouver, have fond memories of writing to pen pals and thought the experience would be a great way to engage their students.

“Students learned that you can get to know new people and grow in kindness by being models of Christ,” said Chavez. “They were able to share their experiences throughout the year and their different faith traditions from their school as well as their family. It made their letters extremely heartfelt and personal.”

There were academic benefits as well; students practised editing, draft writing, and building their literacy skills. Writing letters also touched on critical thinking skills including asking questions and making connections.

At the end of the year, students from both schools went on a field trip to meet each other in person. Despite some inclement weather, the students were overjoyed to finally meet the person they had been writing to, Chavez said.

The students arrived with huge smiles, and as they met each other in person their faces “were full of joy and wonder,” she said.

“They were able to share, in person, how much their correspondence meant to them this year. They laughed, played, explored, and prayed together,” she said.

“The instant bonds that we got to witness first-hand was a beautiful moment.”

Queen of All Saints student Anthony Lemire hopes to stay in touch with his pen pal. “Having a pen pal is a new experience for me and I learned that friendship is an important thing, even if we don’t go to the same school,” he said.

Chavez and Mobilio are thankful to school administrators and parents for helping to make the experience a success, and they want to use it again in September as Catholic schools start the 2024/2025 school year with the theme “Celebrating, and Proclaiming our Faith.”
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