THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 4, 2022 Page 5 Cross-generational pen pals Fourth-grade students and Saugus senior citizens share a personal connection through a letter-writing project By Mark E. Vogler udah Bida was thrilled to talk about his new friend John, a 64-year-old Saugus resident who’s planning a 3,000-mile bicycle trip to Seattle, Washington. Maya Vrankic seemed just as excited sharing what she knew about Donna, the 77-yearold town resident who went to medical school and who loves walking on the local bike trail. Every one of the 22 students in Brigitte Vaudo’s Fourth Grade Class at the Belmonte STEAM Academy has some interesting stories to share about the senior citizens they have befriended through “The Student and Senior Pen Pal Project” – a special program that pairs up a student with a senior. “It’s really a great project J that brings the town and the school together,” Vaudo said this week during a class where students shared stories about the senior citizens they are corresponding with. “These seniors are such good role models who have a positive influence on the students,” she said. Vaudo is overseeing the program that also involves students from three other Fourth Grade classes. But she credits Cheryl Roberto, an outreach worker at the Saugus Senior Center, who wanted to bring back the pen pal program the center once administered. “I developed the program and increased the number of kids, but it really was Cheryl’s idea to get this project going,” she said. Now in her third year in Saugus Public Schools, Vaudo has spent 24 years as an educator – all of it as a fourth grade teacher. Vaudo loves innovative and interactive student projects. Last spring, she initiated a class project titled “What Makes Our Community Special? The History and Heroes of Saugus.” The Pen Pal Project has grown from 10 to 80 students since its inception in September. Vaudo’s personal goal is to expand the program to all of the 200-plus fourth grade students at the Belmonte STEAM Academy. The seniors and students exchange letters once a month. A special mail box Dropping off their letters to be delivered to their “pen pal” senior citizens were – pictured from left to right – Bailey Trabucco and Isabelle Zepeda. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) sets at the front of Vaudo’s classroom for students to place their outgoing letters, which are dropped off at the Senior Center when the seniors’ letters are picked up. The major aim of the program, according to Vaudo, is to help students develop real-life writing skills and build meaningful connections within the community and bridge the generation gap. “We get to learn about new words to include in our writing,” fourth grader Paisleigh Rogers said. Many of Paisleigh’s classmates say they love receiving mail and learning new things about their hometown from people who have lived here for years. Bailey Trabucco, like a few students, said she got creative and included a drawing with her letter. “I learned that the pen pals are very nice people,” Bailey said. “Some of these people probably don’t have any family and need somebody to talk to. We feel happy when we get our letters, so they must feel happy, too,” she said. Vaudo said she agrees that becoming a pen pal with a student can enable a senior to develop a relationship to alleviate loneliness or boredom. Other benefits to seniors include an opportuniPEN PALS | SEE PAGE 6 AUTOTECH DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! Cold Hard Cash for Your Vehicle! RIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT $$ CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! $$ Get your vehicle Winter Ready! We Offer A Complete Safety Check! • Coolant Special with Oil Change • Top Off All Fluids Gt hil Wit Rd • Synthetic Blend Oil Change 2010 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA 2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV Only $79.95 Six Cylinder, Auto., 4X4, Excellent Condition, Most Power Options, Clean Title, Only 170K Miles! TRADES WELCOME! $12,500 Easy Financing Available! (Most vehicles) Premium Package, Every Conceivable Option, Excellent Condition, One Owner. Clean Title, Highway Miles! TRADES WELCOME! $24,500 (781) 321-8841 • (617) 571-9869 1236 EasternAve • Malden EddiesAutotech.com Vehicle! We Pay Cash For Your
6 Publizr Home