This summer, former and incoming Class 344 students are asked to write at least three letters to their assigned pen-pal, and to bring the letters they receive to school in September to share with their class.  Some students will be matched with students who are newly entering our school.  These pen-friendships will be a great way for new students to meet a current student before the school year begins.  Other students will be matched with a current student at our school so that they can continue to strengthen their relationship over the summer.  Regardless of who the pen-pal is, this assignment will give all students an authentic purpose for writing throughout the summer, and will provide a real-world experience with "snail mail."  If your child will be traveling or at camp throughout the entire summer and will not be able to receive and send mail, PLEASE let me know as soon as possible so I will not assign your child a pen-pal.  Otherwise, pen-pal assignments will be emailed to families by the second week of July, along with instructions as to which child is to initiate the pen-pal exchange. 

What is a pen-pal?
A pen-pal is someone you write to frequently to start or continue a friendship.  Pen-pals usually write letters that are sent by postal mail, although now some pen-pals have begun emailing instead.  (Some people call this key-pals, since you use a keyboard instead of a pen.)  You do NOT need to use a pen, to write your letters, however.  Pencil-pals is just fine. :)

How often should I write my pen-pal?
This is really up to you, but I suggest that you try to respond to any letters your receive from your pen-pal within a week or less.  This should allow for about 3 letters from each pal over the summer.  Keep in mind that if your pen-pal sends you a letter, he or she will be waiting for your reply.  You don't want to disappoint your pal by making him or her wait too long.  So try your best to write back quickly.

What should I write about to my pen-pal?
Well, this depends on who your pen-pal is.  If your pen-pal is someone you already know from school, then you can write about what you've been doing so far this summer.  You may want to write about books you've read, about places you've visited, or about activities you are doing.  You might also want to tell you friend interesting things about yourself that they may not already know. 

If your pen-pal is someone you don't know well yet who is new to our school, in your first letter you should introduce yourself.  Tell your pen-pal enough about you so that he/she can get to "meet" you.  Your pen-pal should introduce himself/herself in return in the reply letter.  In your next letters, you can write about yourself, your summer experiences, and about our school.  Remember, if your pen-pal is new to Chelsea Prep, he/she will want to know as much as possible about what to expect at our school.  Students who are just joining our school, feel free to email your pen-pal with all of your questions about our school.  And remember, if your pen-pal asks you questions, be sure to answer their questions in your reply!

Can I send anything other than a letter to my pen-pal?
Yes!  Whatever you send to your pen-pal needs to fit in a letter envelope, however you should feel free to send drawings, photos, or other flat objects that you think might interest your pen-pal.  If you travel somewhere, you may want to collect a brochure or postcard to include with your letter to your pen-pal.

Should my parents help me write my letter?
Well, sort of.  You should write your letter by yourself, but you can ask your parents to check it to help you edit your writing.  You want your pen-pal to be able to read your writing, so you need to spell your words correctly, and write neatly.  Your parents should also check to make sure that you address the envelope correctly.  Ask your parents for a stamp, and then go with them to mail your letter at a postbox or other location.

What do I do with the letters I receive from my pen-pal?
Save all of the letters you receive and bring them to school in September.  You will show your correspondence to the class.

What do I do if I don't receive any letters from my pen-pal?
Please send Mrs. Zimmerman an email if you haven't received at least one letter from your pen-pal by the end of July.  Mrs. Zimmerman will try to sort out the problem for you.

It is important to address the envelope to your pen-pal correctly, or your letter may get lost in the mail.  Follow the guidelines below and then ask your parents to check your envelope.  Be sure to write neatly when addressing your envelope so your letter will reach its correct destination, too.

ADDRESS: This is the name and address of the person (recipient) you are sending the letter to.  On separate lines write:

• Pen-pal's Full Name
• Street Address
• City, State and Zip Code

Use postal abbreviations when writing the state. Postal abbreviations are written in capital letters without periods or other punctuation. The postal abbreviation for New York is NY

RETURN ADDRESS: This is the information about you, the sender of the letter.  Write your name and address in the top left corner of the envelope.  In case the post office cannot deliver your letter for some reason, they will return your letter to you using the return address.

STAMP: In the top right corner of the envelope you place a postage stamp. This pays for the delivery of the letter.