MacArthur classes write letters to students in Cuba

When local resident Bob Frankel heads to Cuba in the next few weeks, he and his wife will be delivering dozens of letters to local students that were written by students in some of the fourth- through sixth-grade classes at MacArthur International Spanish Academy.

"Not only is this an effort to build community across borders, it provides our dual language students an opportunity to apply their Spanish writing skills in a very authentic way," said MacArthur Principal Ivette Rivera-Weigle.

In the letters, the students talked about the dual language program and about education in the United States.

"The hope is that they will respond, and we will receive letters from our new learning pen pals in Cuba in the future!" Rivera-Weigle said.

Frankel, whose three children attended District 54 schools, volunteered at MacArthur for several years after his retirement. He worked with students in a variety of areas, including math, writing, social studies, and reading.