Because of the ease of texting and emailing, composing handwritten letters has become a bit of lost art.

Students in Lindsay Mitman's second-grade class at the Octorara Primary Learning Center in partnership with residents of Ashbridge Manor Senior Living of Downingtown have revived the letter-writing tradition through their annual pen pal program.

The students started corresponding with the seniors at the beginning of the school year. All of the letters are included in a binder, which goes back and forth between the students and seniors about once a month.

"We write things about us, and we ask questions. Sometimes the kids here draw pictures for them to put in their apartments," said second-grader Peyton Chansky.

The pen pal program came about because of a family connection between Mitman and her mother, Veronique Hadfield, who is the activities director at Ashbridge Manor Senior Living.

Recently, Hadfield traveled to the Octorara school to pick up a donation of word search and crossword puzzle books and jigsaw puzzles that students in all grades had collected for the seniors as part of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service activity.

"There are over 100 books and puzzles, and we hope it brings them a little fun," said Mitman.

Accompanying Hadfield were two of the pen pals, Gail Phillips and Rosemary Spezzo. Spezzo's granddaughter is Megan McLoone, a teacher at the Octorara Primary Learning Center.

Phillips has two student pen pals, a boy and a girl. Recent letters have included questions related to the current season. "I wanted to know how they play in the winter," said Phillips. "I shared that I grew up across the street from a big lake, so I grew up ice skating."

Mitman pointed out that the Ashbridge residents print their letters so that students can read them, since they don't learn about writing in cursive until third grade. "I give the letters to the kids and if they need some help reading it, I will help them," she said. "Most of the kids read (the letters) on their own."

In addition, the Octorara students hold live story time readings with the Downingtown seniors. "Not only are they pen pals, but some of the students from my class volunteered to read them stories virtually," noted Mitman. "They practice books and read them."

"Not only do they do a good job reading, they turn the pages so we can see the pictures," Phillips added.