STUDENT-TO-STUDENT CONNECTIONS

The Tenafly Middle School Global Club has engaged in two projects aimed at developing connections with the students and educators of the Ethio-American Friendship School:  a Friendship Quilt project and Pen-Pal correspondence. 

Friendship Quilt

The Friendship Quilt project was conceived, organized and created during Fall 2008 by the wonderful joint efforts of teacher-volunteer, Ms. Katie O’Brien, and the students of the Tenafly Global Care Club.  The visual focal point of the quilt is a tree, whose trunk consists entirely of the personal reflections – in English and Amharic – of the Tenafly students and whose leaves consist of their signed handprints.  (Tenafly resident and Ethiopian parent-volunteer, Negest Araya, provided invaluable translations of some of the student writings into Amharic.)  The Friendship quilt was shared with the Tenafly school community at our December 2008 “12-Room Celebration” events.  Mark personally delivered this beautiful quilt to the students of the Ethio-American Friendship School (EAFS) at the welcoming ceremony on January 1, 2009.

• Click here to see photos of the quilt displayed at our Tenafly celebrations.
• Click here to see photos of the Friendship Quilt at EAFS.
• Click here for excerpts of Tenafly student writings inscribed on quilt.

Pen Pal Correspondence

During spring 2009, students from the Tenafly Middle School Global Care Club and EAFS students in grades 5-7 participated in their first exchange of handwritten letters.  The touching reflections shared by both groups of students offered an inspirational boost to both student groups.

• Click here to read pen-pal exchanges between students from Tenafly Middle School and EAFS.