Local kids write to students affected by hurricanes

CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- A group of kids in Chester, Delaware County are sending notes of encouragement to students affected by Hurricanes Irma and Harvey.

It's not a lesson you'll find in a textbook or workbook, but the teachers and principal at Chester's Stetser Elementary School believe it's one of the most important life lessons their students can learn.

Sonjae Ferrante, a 6th grader said, "It's important to give back to other communities in need."

Thursday morning hundreds of students gathered in the cafeteria, their trays in one hand, composition notebooks in the other.

Children in grades K through 6th were asked to collect the notebooks for students in Miami and Houston impacted by hurricanes Irma and Harvey. The project was led by 6th grade student leaders.

Millie Oquendo, Stetser Elementary social worker said, "It's important in today's world to learn how to have empathy and to care about what's going on in the world, to be aware of what's going on, and to teach children how to give back,"

Principal Janet Baldwin said, "It's a meaningful opportunity for them to understand what happened to other children and to make a personal connection."

Second grader Devin Holmes said, "It's very good to know you are sharing and caring for other people."

More than just a notebook, students in Florida and Texas will also receive some well wishes. On the first page they'll find a special handwritten note with encouraging words like this.

"In my notebook I wanted to write I'm sorry that your school got destroyed and I hope that you can learn more than you learned before," Devin said.

Stetser Elementary School is not done giving back just yet.

The principal says they are working on creating a partnership with a school in Miami to help the children affected by hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

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