BHS choir members find first-grade friends at inner-city school
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
Pen pals have been around for ages.
Most can likely remember trading addresses and letters with grade school-aged counterparts – whether it be in neighboring school districts, neighboring states, or even different countries.
But for members of the Burlington High School A Capella Choir, this year’s pen pals took on a different meaning.
When the mother of one of the choir members – Michele Burton – was switched to a first-grade classroom at Racine’s Knapp Elementary, the idea of pen pals was first raised.
“She said she was getting moved to the first grade,” said Penny Yanke, the BHS choir director. “I said we should do the pen-pal program, and we could come and sing for them at Christmas time.”
The culmination of the project was Dec. 6, when the choir class made the trip into Knapp Elementary, where they sang Christmas carols throughout the school and also helped decorate Christmas cookies.
“One of the kids said it was the best experience they had in high school,” said Yanke. “One of the kids said it was a very humbling experience.
“A lot of kids (were) talking about their home lives, and things these kids have not experienced before,” she added.
As things came together, it seemed to be a match made in heaven. There were 24 students in Burton’s first-grade classroom – and 24 students in Yanke’s choir.
“They were excited to be pen pals with a group of kids they didn’t know,” Yanke said. “I think they got more excited when they got their first letter.”
The first letters went over most of the basics.
“First of all, the first graders asked them what they liked to do,” Yanke said. “They usually asked if they played any sports, whether they had any brothers or sisters, what their favorite colors were.”
The teenagers in the choir program then responded – and the letters started going back and forth. Questions were asked – one student had to explain what being involved in poms meant – holidays were discussed.
Generally, one group of students got to know the other.
“We got to meet really nice people, and kids of all different personalities and backgrounds,” said Gunnar Knight, a senior and Yanke’s son. “(We learned about) how it was different from a kid coming from Burlington and a kid coming from Racine.”
Fellow senior Lexi Baker said she got a look into someone else’s life through her pen pal, a little girl.
“Just her whole perspective on life … it was fun relating to the things she was learning and (remembering) when I was learning those things,” said Baker. “I would say things have changed.”
Baker said the young lady already has a cell phone, and “is in love with Justin Bieber.” Baker was the one who had to explain what “poms” was – and also found out her pen pal likes dancing.
When Baker got a chance to meet her last week, the senior said she “had a great time.”
“It was nice to put a name to a face and get to see her personality,” she said. “She was very energetic and sweet and totally matched the personality of her writing.”
Baker said it was apparent there were struggles for the students in Burton’s classroom, but for the most part, students are students.
“Knapp School does a great job with its kids there,” Baker said. “I was shocked at how much the first graders knew. It was really a good experience.”
Knight said it was great to see what Knapp School did with less.
“It was interesting to see what they did, how they made so much with so little,” Knight said. “They made so many opportunities for kids.
“They took everything they could and didn’t take anything for granted.”
Yanke said she and her students would love to do the program again next year.
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