Climate change. Social media. Violence in schools.
These are just a few of the topics that students at Trinity Elementary School in New Rochelle focused on when they wrote letters to President Biden and Vice President Harris this past spring in Pia Persampieri’s fourth-grade bilingual class.
The project was part of an opinion unit in literacy. Students were assigned to write an opinion piece based on their research.
This fall, they received responses back — from both the President and Vice President. (See image below to read the letter from the President.)
“When I opened the packet, I felt shocked, and at the same time really excited,” said student Daniela Oliveros, now in fifth grade in Maritza Arenillas’ class. “In the letter, Vice President Harris thanked me for the kind words and said that she would work hard for our country. Then she said our nation is waiting for you, and to pay attention to your teachers. When I got home, my mother and I compared her signature to others online to make sure the letter really came from the Vice President, and it did!”
Oliveros took away an important lesson from the experience: reach high, and don't give up! Writing to someone in such a position of authority, and receiving a response, was truly rewarding, she said.
In his letter, President Biden wrote, “Even at your young ages, you have the power to impact the future for generations to come. Throughout your lives, remain curious, creative and fearless. These traits will serve you well and allow you to experience the best life has to offer.”
Persampieri was thrilled with how the lesson turned out.
“One of my goals for the unit was for learners to see themselves as change agents,” she said. “Calling on lawmakers to make those changes encourages students to bring attention to issues that matter to them, both at a local and national level.”
Michael Hilderbrand, principal at Trinity Elementary, said the project was another example of the school’s mindset that “everything you do matters.”
“The efforts of these scholars exemplify that mindset,” he said. “They have shown us that their voice matters, and on a national level! I am proud to say Trinity scholars are the change we want to see in the world.”
