Our "Pen-Pal" Program:

OUR FIRST LETTERS HAVE BEEN MAILED!!!!!
We are happy to announce that we sent our first letters to our new friends!  We were able to reach our goal of brainstorming ideas and completing our introductory letter before the Thanksgiving break.  We look forward to hearing from our Fulton friends in the near future!

Several of my students have expressed great interest in writing letters and journal entries.  I think this is fantastic, and would like to take advantage of their eagerness to write.  I have arranged for your child to be paired with a “Pen-Pal”.  The “Pen-Pals” are fifth graders in Mrs. Brown’s class at Fairgrieve Elementary in the Fulton City School District.  This district is in a small city setting just North of Syracuse and about 10 miles West of Lake Ontario.  I did my Special Education student teaching in this school and worked very closely with Mrs. Brown during my time there. 
                I believe that this experience will be beneficial on several different academic levels.  The obvious benefit is that your child will have excellent practice with their writing, proofreading, editing, and reading skills.  All of the letters will be written, edited and rewritten before being mailed.  This is also going to allow the students to interact with students from a different region of New York State.  This would help our students as they continue to learn about our state.  I believe that the students in Fulton will have a lot to share with our students, especially as the winter months and inevitable lake effect snow storms approach.
                This will also give the students an opportunity to talk with students that would be considered middle school students in Fonda.  These students will be able to share their experiences with fifth grade and hopefully help to ease any concerns our students may have for next year.  Our students will also be able to learn a little bit about living and attending school in a city.    Finally, I think it will be excellent to just have another friend and someone to talk to.  By the end of this school year, both sets of students will be able to say that they have a friend from across the state.         
                I am seeking your permission to allow your child to exchange letters with another student from Fairgrieve Elementary in Fulton, New  York.  All letters will be closely monitored by Mrs. Brown in Fairgrieve Elementary and myself.  The letters will be mailed from the school and at no expense to the family.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions at eromano@ffcsd.org  or calling the school at 853-3332.  You may also wish to visit the website below to learn more about Fairgrieve Elementary, the students, and the faculty.
                       http://www.fulton.cnyric.org/schools/fairgrieve/index.cfm

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