North Bellmore Fourth Graders Get Writing, Pen Pals With Future Classmates

NORTH BELLMORE, NY — Fourth graders got to know their future classmates through the art of letter writing.

Students in Janine Steinert's class at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School in North Bellmore wrote to their pen pals in Ashley Vella's fourth-grade class at the Martin Avenue School earlier this month.

Steinert's class received the first round of letters from Vella's class. Teacher Steinert read aloud their letters and helped the students work on their responses. She said it's a great way for the students to make connections, especially as they will go to middle and high school together in the future.

Students also learned how to address an envelope and drew on stamps, as they were not actually sent out via mail. Steinert's class learned the importance of letter writing and what to include in a letter, such as how to ask questions and write conversationally. They hope to continue writing letters back and forth throughout the duration of the year, and potentially will have a video call with the students at the end of the year.