Last year Sarah Morrison’s eighth grade Lynnhaven Middle School advanced English students had pen pals in Africa.
“This year we wanted to take it a step further,” Morrison said. A grant from the Virginia Beach Education Foundation(VBEF) made that possible.
The VBEF awarded approximately $180,000 in Adopt A+ grants including 59 projects for the 2024-25 school year.
One of the projects is Morrison’s “In My Pen Pal Era: Bridging Continents through Letters.”
Students read the memoir “I Will Always Write Back” by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda. The authors became friends and better people through a long-distance exchange between the U.S. and Zimbabwe.
Gifted resource teacher Jessica Lessmann connected Morrison with a school in the African country of Ghana and a pen pal partnership was created. Letters were sent several times during the school year.
The grant will expand the project and include monthly postage to and from Ghana. Last year, the African school scanned and emailed their letters because they could not afford the mailing expense.
The average household income in Ghana is considerably less than in the U.S. and many families live in poverty.
Student Harry Liva is from England and lives in Virginia Beach because his father works for NATO.
After reading the book, he realized disparities between living in America and parts of Africa.
Students are not offered a free education.
Some must sacrifice going to school to help their families, Harry said. And “a small amount of money here is massive there,” he added.
The book chronicles a relationship between Caitlin, who wrote to Martin, a student in Africa as part of a class assignment.
Martin’s family was struggling. They lived in a one-room home and had difficulty paying for his education so he could stay in school.
He carried luggage for tips so he could write back to Caitlin.
Caitlin’s family sent money, clothes, shoes, candy and more to Zimbabwe. Martin told Caitlin $20 dollars was more than his father made in several months. Eventually they helped him secure a college scholarship in America.
The Lynnhaven Middle pen pal program can implement more ideas thanks to the grant, Morrison said. They plan to have a photo exchange. Disposable cameras and funds for return postage will be provided to the Ghana school.
Cameras will be returned to Lynnhaven Middle and the film developed so the pen pals will get glimpses into each other’s school environment and daily lives.
The project will not only improve students’ reading comprehension and writing skills but will provide a unique cultural exchange, Morrison said.
Their first letters of introduction were recently written and mailed.
Celebrating the Grants
Teachers at Virginia Beach City Public Schools have received nearly $3 million in grants to bring innovative ideas into the classroom since 2000, thanks to support from the Virginia Beach Education Foundation.
Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr. spoke at this year’s TGIF, “Teacher Grants Improve Futures.” The event recognized VBEF grant recipients and sponsors.
Educators should be recognized for their innovative ideas, he said. “Our teachers and administrators are helping our students become future ready.”
Lunch With Leaders
After John B. Dey Elementary School hosted a successful summer book club, educators wanted to offer a club to fourth and fifth graders during the school year.
A VBEF grant funded books for “Lunch With Leaders.”
During three sessions, students will read a book with a variety of school leaders during lunchtime.
Principal Greg Furlich, assistant principal Dawn Vang and administrative assistant Megan Smith hosted the first gathering in the school’s Innovative Learning Center.
More than 60 students signed up for the opportunity to read “Out of My Mind” by Sharon Draper. The novel is about Melody, an 11-year-old girl who can’t speak without the help of a machine and has a physical disability.
The group ate lunch while discussing Melody’s bravery, how technology changed her life, and more.
Fourth grader Olivia Fox summed up the book’s message. “Even though you have a ton of disabilities, you can do anything.”
Igniting Curiosity
Thalia Elementary School’s VBEF grant for “Hands-On SparkED: Igniting Curiosity With Mad Science Assemblies and Interactive Experiments” will enhance the science curriculum for all grades.
Mad Science of Hampton Roads will present captivating demonstrations on a variety of topics, from air pressure to sound waves and chemical reactions throughout the school year.
The company recently participated in the school’s “Family Engagement Math & Science Night” in conjunction with trunk-or-treat festivities.
Alaric, George and Emmerich Helm seemed mesmerized as they watched “mad scientist” Julia Johnston turn dry ice from a solid into a gas to create a spooky fog. Their mother smiled. “They are never going to leave,” she said.
For more information on the VBEF, visit www.vbef.org. VBCPS employees may access the “VBEF Grant Writing Tips and Applications” via Canvas in January, with a tentative deadline of May 1.
