Hudson Valley teacher Melissa Feldmann is helping to keep students, faculty, and staff members at Lenape Elementary School in New Paltz connected using one of the oldest forms of communication: Feldman created an in-school postal system.

The fourth grade teacher found inspiration for the program from her experience participating in the U.S. Postal System’s “Wee Deliver” postal project when she was in school. She says the program will help with the social emotional learning of students as they navigated learning through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It's something that's so important and valuable for our students, especially in today's climate, where they've been out of school, then back into school, and each day, their whole world can kind of change,” says Feldmann.

Students will be able to write letters to their peers, faculty and staff members to maintain a social connection with those that may no longer share the same classroom with them or may be in a different grade level.

“They're so ecstatic when they get to write a letter to a friend, but the joy you see when they receive a letter from somebody else is just exactly why I wanted to start a program like this,” says Feldmann.

The in-school postal system will also help students learn about how a U.S. post office works.

“There will be a mail carrier for each classroom so that each student gets a chance to deliver mail in one year,” Feldmann said.

She hopes the project will help students grow in their writing skills and help those who are a little shy feel more comfortable to express themselves.

Teachers are working on a way to give the students privacy in their letters but are also making sure the system is not used to bully other students.