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<< Previous   of   Next >> Dan Bates / The Herald  (click to enlarge) English Language Learners pen pal Brent Ingram (center) talks with 10-year-olds Eric Trofimchik (left) and Eduardo Aparicio (right), who have been writing him letters as pen pals. The three met in person for a celebration event at the Marysville School District office. Here, Eduardo teases Eric because it's Eric's turn to get up in front of everyone and tell a story. Dan Bates / The Herald  (click to enlarge) English language learners Genesis Bustos, 10, (left) Alvaro Vera, 10, and Angely Munoz, 9, listen as another student reads aloud to students and pen pals gathered at the Marysville School District office on Thursday. (click to enlarge) English language learners give their pen pals roses at the close of Thursday's celebration at the Marysville School District office. In the foreground, Stephanie Ramirez of Pinewood Elementary gives a rose to pen pal Breanna Wickberg.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 Marysville pen pal letters simply deliver happiness By Kaitlin Manry Herald Writer MARYSVILLE -- Eduardo Aparicio loved getting mail. The 10-year-old would rush to his English Language Learners class each day to check the mailbox for a letter from his pen pal, retired Sunnyside Elementary School librarian Brent Ingram. The letters were supposed to help improve Eduardo's English skills, but he mostly enjoyed the thrill of getting mail -- a first for him. He read each letter several times before carefully drafting a response. "Mr. Ingram I am reading about the scorpion and the bees. I know all about the scorpions. In the tv I haven't seen a hairy scorpion stinger. On the TV I saw that a bee sting some times is good for you if your bones are hurt or something else. Do you think this is true? FROM, EDUARDO" A few days later, a response arrived. The Kellogg Marsh Elementary School fourth-grader tore into the envelope. "Hello Eduardo, I don't know much about scorpions. That is one of the great things about books. We can learn about all the things in the world. I don't know if bee stings can be good for you, but I do know they hurt. One time I stepped on a beehive and was stung six times. OUCH! Be sure to do your best on the test next week. I am looking ­forward to your next letter. Your friend, Mr. Ingram" Last week, Eduardo and Mr. Ingram finally met face-to-face for the first time at a party celebrating the Marysville School District's English Language Learners pen pal program. Earlier this year, around 20 students who are learning English at three elementary schools were paired with volunteers from the Marysville Friends of the Library. The students picked books for their pen pal to read, then they traded letters. They were supposed to share their thoughts on the books, but they also talked about vacations, weekend plans and their families. "Instantly, I knew something special was happening -- something I hadn't even planned on," said program founder Staci Tuck, the Marysville School District's English Language Learners coordinator. "These adult literacy mentors basically became surrogate grandparents and mentors and friends like these kids never had. Not only were the normal letters coming about the books, but birthday cards were coming and extra letters were coming before kids had a test and postcards from trips." Writing letters in English could be tough, and it took a while, said Eduardo, who emigrated from Mexico four years ago. But it was also fun to exchange thoughts with his pen pal. "I was very excited to get them," he said, standing beside Ingram at the party. "I couldn't wait. I always like to get to class a little early to get my letters." He would read, then sit down in front of a computer and start typing. "Dear Mr Ingram I read about the rattlesnake and the shrew. I think that the rattlesnake position is very amazing, and I didn't know that shrew were poisonous. Have you ever seen a real rattlesnake or a shrew? EDUARDO" Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292, kmanry@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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