Objective: Starting in Pre-K and continuing through high school graduation, this mindset encourages family members to write annual letters to the student. Each letter should include a personal story and the writer’s dreams for the student’s future. This creates a continuous dialogue that looks forward to goals and backward to family history, providing a strong foundation and motivation for the student. The original letters always remain at home while copies are sent to school.
Process:
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- Each year, parents, grandparents, and other involved adults write a letter to the student, by February preferably.
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- Letters are read to the student by the writer, fostering conversation and understanding.
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- Copies of completed letters are collected, placed in a self-addressed envelope, and sent to the school.
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- Letters are stored in a secure Time Capsule Vault at the school, to be returned annually for review and reflection before Thanksgiving and the letter writing to each parent.
Why It Matters: This ongoing process helps students track their growth, as the letters evolve with their changing aspirations. Even if only one parent writes, they are creating a valuable annual record that connects the student to their heritage and encourages them to pursue their dreams.
