It was a lively St. Patrick’s Day celebration for the Grade 4 class at Lundar Early Years School and their pen pals from the Lundar senior community.
The intergenerational pals have been writing back and forth since the beginning of the school year, but this marked their first in-person meeting. Both Lacie Miller, senior resource co-ordinator with the Lundar Community Resources Council, and teacher Breanna Malcolm said it was heartwarming to see those written connections come to life.
“The day before, the seniors were very busy bustling around, making decorations and preparing the Irish stew for our St. Patrick’s Day party,” Miller said. “They were all happy to meet each other and have a visit in person.”
In total, 10 pairs of pen pals — seniors aged 59 to 88 and students aged nine and 10 — took part in the gathering. Miller said the event was well attended and clearly demonstrated the value of intergenerational connections.
“It was amazing to me — these kids ran up to people they’d never met before with open arms for big hugs to introduce themselves,” she added. “They sure put smiles on the seniors’ faces.”
The group spent the afternoon enjoying activities such as floor curling, puzzles and crib, followed by a shared meal of bannock, dumplings and stew prepared by the seniors.
Miller brought the idea forward to the school after seeing similar intergenerational programs succeed in neighbouring communities. Support from the Manitoba Association of Senior Communities helped make the initiative possible through an intergenerational programming grant, which covered expenses such as letter-writing supplies and program materials. She said the program helps reduce isolation, fosters meaningful relationships and creates opportunities for both generations to share knowledge.
She plans to reapply for the grant in the fall and introduce a new Grade 4 class to the initiative.
The program also had a noticeable impact in the classroom.
“During the intergenerational pen pal program, students showed meaningful growth in their writing skills,” Malcolm said. “With a real audience to write to, they became more engaged and intentional in their work. Over time, their letters demonstrated improved organization, including clear beginnings, middles and endings.”
She added that many students’ voices, personalities and creativity shone through in their writing, and said she was “pleasantly surprised” by how excited they were to finally meet their pen pals.
Beyond literacy development, Malcolm said the experience helped students build a deeper connection to their community.
“Moments like that remind me how important it is to create opportunities for students to feel connected, valued and part of something bigger,” she said. “By connecting with members of the community, students gain a deeper sense of belonging and understanding of different life experiences and perspectives.”
The pen pals will continue corresponding through the end of the school year. Once the snow melts, the seniors hope to host the students again for a day of yard games and a barbecue lunch.
“This experience was all about building meaningful connections between students and their pen pals, between generations and within our community,” Malcolm added. “It brought learning to life in a way that went far beyond the classroom, helping students feel seen, valued and connected to our small community.”
