Senior Constable Miranda Jackson and Sunshine Primary’s Tia are sharing their lives through letters. 80639 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By LAURA WAKELY
IN THE age of tablets and touch screens, a class at Sunshine Primary School is getting back to the lost art of letter writing.
Earlier this year, Grade 6 students began penning letters to members of the Brimbank Police Service Area, forming a pen pal link with their local cops.
Organised by the Ardoch Youth Foundation, the year-long program aims to improve literacy, social and life skills while increasing connections between different members of the community.
Ardoch Community Education co-ordinator Carla Barbieri said the program was one of 40 running in 2012.
“The feedback we constantly hear from teachers is, not only does the program improve literacy, it also offers them role models and lets them know there’s someone else in the world who cares about them,” Ms Barbieri said.
Students Alec, Tia and Emily said it was exciting to learn about the busy lives of local police.
“We write about who we are and what we like doing and stuff, how our schools going and what we’ve done so far,” Alec said.
Tia said the program had also made her feel more comfortable about approaching a police officer.
But the benefit hasn’t just been for students according to community liason officer Senior Constable Miranda Jackson.
“It’s nice to have some interaction in a positive light, getting to know the kids and having them get to know us,” she said.
“Learning what we do and feeling that they’re able to ask us questions, it’s great.”
To find out more about the program, visit www.ardoch.asn.au
