Students in Mrs. Wilson and Ms. Manns’ fifth grade class at the Pines Elementary School, along with students in Mrs. Kulesa’s Leadership class at Hauppauge High School, spent the school year building meaningful connections through a special pen pal program.

Beginning in the fall, students exchanged letters introducing themselves, sharing highlights from their school year, and discussing the differences between elementary school and high school. The fifth graders also shared their excitement about moving up to middle school next year, while the high school students offered advice and encouragement.

The partnership extended beyond letters with two in-person visits to the Pines throughout the year. During their most recent visit, students teamed up for games and activities, including a lively round of “Headbands,” where students worked together to guess the noun written on their cards. The fun continued outside on the upper field with games of tug-of-war and kickball.

The day concluded with a group photo in front of the new Pines Pride sign, recently created by the student council on the school fence. The pen pal program provided students with an opportunity to form friendships, strengthen leadership skills, and create lasting memories. Both classes are already looking forward to continuing this special tradition with future fifth grade students.