Connetquot Central School District

June 13, 2025

Cherokee Street and Duffield pen pals meet face-to-face

Cherokee Street and Helen B. Duffield elementary schools recently came together for a special event where students had the chance to meet their ENL (English as a New Language) pen pals in person.

After spending months exchanging letters, artwork and learning about one another’s cultures and experiences, the students were thrilled to finally connect face-to-face. The day was filled with smiles, laughter and shared activities that celebrated their growing friendships and diverse backgrounds. Teachers and staff from both schools were proud to see how the pen pal project had helped build confidence, language skills and meaningful connections across school communities.

Students play a game of Connect Four at a table in a classroom. Four young girls sit on the floor in a classroom, smiling at the camera. A group of children smile while gathered around a table in a classroom. A group of children play a card game at a table in a classroom.