As part of an on-going effort to present the grade eights with a smooth transition to St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, a pen-pal program has been launched that strives to make connections between grade eights and senior students in the school.
Introduced by principal Brennan Trainor, the program had been well-received by students of Bishop Smith Catholic High School in Pembroke when Mr. Trainor served as that school’s vice-principal.
Grade twelve students have already completed the writing of their introductory letters, and those letters were delivered to the grade eights this past Friday. Some common themes found in this first piece of correspondence included words of welcome, offers of assistance, and the encouragement of the establishment of positive dialogue between the younger and older students.
Upon receiving their letters, the grade eights were encouraged to make a written response to the grade twelves, and in many cases already, students have made the effort to meet in person in the halls to get better acquainted.
“We want the grade eights to understand that they’re part of something special here, part of a family,” said Mr. Trainor. “And a good way to help them feel a part of it by making connections with people outside their own grade.”
