This school year, Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) classes from Tecler Elementary, McNulty Academy and Galway Central School District participated in a collaborative Pen Pal project designed to promote early literacy, social connection and creativity among students.
Each month, students in the six participating classrooms wrote letters to their assigned buddy class, sharing information about themselves and their school routines. Along with their letters, students included drawings and small projects to further personalize their communication.
In addition to the written exchanges, classes made friendship bracelets and created puzzles using photos of their classmates. The puzzle activity allowed the buddy classrooms to get to know each other visually and added an interactive component to the pen pal experience.
To conclude the project, all six classes met in person at the Galway Elementary School playground. The students played together, shared popsicles and participated in outdoor activities with their pen pal friends. This in-person event marked the first time many of the students met their pen pals face-to-face.
Each class wore a designated color of the rainbow for the event, forming a visual “rainbow of friends” to symbolize the unity created through the project. The activity emphasized both individuality and teamwork, key themes throughout the yearlong collaboration.
The Pre-K Pen Pal initiative highlights the district’s commitment to building connections beyond school walls and supporting early childhood development through meaningful social and academic experiences.