Pen Pals Unite for the First Time to Plant Trees

This year, South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo Schools) launched a district-wide pen pal program to promote wellness, connections and literacy among students. The pen pal program involves AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students at each middle school, along with third and fourth-grade students at six of our elementary schools, Armstrong, Crestview, Hillside and Grey Cloud elementary schools in Cottage Grove, Newport Elementary in Newport, and Pullman Elementary in St. Paul Park.

Nearly 950 students are participating in this pen pal program.  

"This program is about more than just writing, it’s about building relationships across grade levels and schools," said Newport Elementary teacher Amy Kestner. "The students gain confidence in their communication while supporting one another."

“It was really cool to write to each other by hand,” said Woodbury Middle School eighth-grader Brayen Martin. “It felt a lot more authentic.”

Each middle school student is paired with an elementary student, writing back and forth monthly throughout the school year, allowing them to gain confidence in their writing and literacy skills and practice thoughtful, supportive communication.

“We wrote about our favorite things to do,” said Hillside Elementary third-grader Greata Lepsche. “I liked handwriting letters because we could also draw pictures for each other.”

“My pen pal knows so much about dinosaurs and trees, he’s taught me so much,” said Cottage Grove Middle School seventh-grader Rose Mahady-Moua.

To celebrate a year filled with letter-writing, students in the pen pal program had the unique opportunity to meet in person while attending a field trip to the Newport Bailey School Forest Park. Students participated in outdoor learning activities while having time to connect with their pen pals.

During their meeting, students planted trees in restoration areas of the school forest with assistance from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in honor of Arbor Day. DNR Rangers provided seedlings and demonstrated how to plant and tend tree seedlings. 

“Neither of us has ever planted a tree before,” said Newport Elementary third-grader Geo Vang. “This is my favorite field trip ever.”

“It’s exciting to see students come together not just to meet their pen pals, but to help each other plant trees,” said DNR forester Karl Mueller. “This year’s Arbor Month theme is Plant it Forward, and that’s exactly what these kids are doing. They’re leaving something lasting for future students. That’s what Arbor Day and Arbor Month are all about, growing stronger communities through trees.”

The student pen pal teams also participated in Indigenous education through storytelling sessions and lessons about native Minnesota plants and wildlife that can be found in the school forest. 

"Connecting students to nature and each other makes this experience truly special," said AVID District Coordinator Molly Lester. "They’re growing friendships and a deeper appreciation for our community and environment."