I

I'm a Swing Kid!!
So what do I do now??

Thank you for volunteering your time to help a group of smiling kids. As a Swing Kid you supervise the letter collection each month and encourage pen pal involvement. Check below for some important info on collecting letters.

General Info Letter Collecting Guide FAQs

Collecting letters is one of the most important aspects of your role as a Swing Kid. You ensure that all the elementary school pen pals have an equal and safe opportunity to communicate with their college pen pals. Please remember that you MUST implement and enforce guidelines for that simple reason. Therefore, there are simple standards designed to ensure that this process is efficient, secure, and fair for all participants. Here are some tips and guidelines to ensure a successful letter exchange each month:

Letter Timeline:

Collection Tips:

Remind pen pals when letters are due with phone calls, monthly reminder flyers, and emails
Make sure your class list is up-to-date
Use the Letter Tracking Sheet to track keep of pen pals who habitually turn in late or poor quality letters
Letters are due on Monday at 8pm - immediately contact those pen pals who do not turn in their letters by that time

Letter Format:
The format of the letters is very important! Keep in mind these guidelines when you check over the letters

Written on one side of an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper. They may NOT exceed one page or use odd-size stationery!
Printed legibly (no cursive).
Signed with the pen pal's first name and last initial.
Tri-folded and addressed on the outside:
1. Little pen pal's first name and last initial
2. The teacher's name
3. The school's name
Letters should NOT be placed in individual envelopes.

Letter Content:

Pen Pals SHOULD:

Answer questions asked by their little pen pal
Ask questions for their little pen pal to answer
Talk about age appropriate topics (pets, siblings, common interests, simple life at college, favorites, games, etc.)
Watch their language (i.e. correct spelling/grammar, no obscenities, etc.)

Pen Pals SHOULD NOT:

Give full name, email address, phone number, or home address. This is very important!
Directly mention holidays in their letters, unless their little kid pen pals mention it first
Include intimate details of their lives. Teachers have asked us not to mention things about parents, deeper relationship issues, parties, etc.
Send personal gifts or pictures with their letters unless each little kid receives one from their pen pals

If you have questions, contact your Hall Head or email smile@umich.edu

*	One Week Before Letters are Due	Create an original, unsealed package for the completed letters Remind pen pals of upcoming letter due date
*	Monday	Letters are due at 8pm; check letter drop-off box in library Meet with Hall Heads to discuss and collect letters, plan projects, and discuss problems
*	Mon-Wed	Collect all delinquent letters Look over letters for appropriate content and proper format
*	Wed	Drop off completed package and letters for Hall Heads at designated point in your Res Hall
*	Friday	Hall Heads deliver letters to the school; come along with them!