Why GRMS Still Writes Letters, and the 3 Surprising Reasons You Should Open Them

Guadalupe Regional Middle School (GRMS) is mailing its annual school-wide Report Card to stakeholders this week, the last of several mailings from this past school year detailing the impact of the mission on students.

"We know most of our supporters have never sent a child to our school, that's the nature of our mission," said Michael Motyl, GRMS President. "Communicating the impact of their gift is high priority for us. The same way they have taken the time for us, we want to take time for them."

So what does mail at GRMS look like?

1. IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR.

We never pay outside businesses to print labels, write letters,

or stuff envelopes. It's all done in- house with volunteers, parents, and/or the family members of staff.

2. WE MEAN WHAT WE WRITE!

Letters come straight from the President's desk and are often signed by hand. "I want to know who our people are, and the best way to do that is to see each name, one-by-one, even if I have to take the letters home." -Michael Motyl, President

3. WE'RE PASSING THE ART OF THE THANK YOU AND LETTER WRITING ON TO STUDENTS.

The best way to learn, is to do. More and more, GRMS students are writing letters to our stakeholders. During Catholic

Schools Week, students reflect on the gift of a Catholic education and write a letter of thanks to someone who helped make their scholarship possible. During College Week, sponsored by our Graduate Support Program, students were encouraged to explore college and career possibilities deeper, by writing a letter to a GRMS supporter who we know is working in their field of interest.

"More and more, we're having students write letters. To the parents, to those who make their scholarships possible, to those with interesting careers. They learn the letter writing process, they get a chance to reflect, plus there is the unmistakable thrill of receiving a letter back from someone. Once a week, at our school-wide morning meeting, we call students up in front of their peers to receive a letter that someone has written back to them. "