Staff Report
Newsome is about to embark on its seventh year of offering a sentimental sendoff to graduating seniors. For the past six years, the school and its Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) have organized the Blue Letter Envelope program. The program allows friends and family members of Newsome High graduates to express their well wishes and congratulations through letters or cards.
This program is not just limited to family. Contributors can be coaches, pastors or previous teachers; anyone who has been impactful to the life of the student is a great addition to the envelope.
It is up to parents to get the word out and start contacting anyone who they think would be a good addition to their child’s envelope.
The letters for each student are then collected, sorted and placed into a large blue envelope. The blue envelope containing all those good wishes is presented to each student the morning before graduation at their senior breakfast.
Newsome’s program is inspired by the nationwide Red Letter Envelope program. The color switch to blue was made a few years ago to reflect Newsome’s school colors.
Chairperson Stacie Miller said, “My daughter graduated in 2011 and I made it my personal challenge to track down as many of her past teachers as I could. I managed to get letters from six of her seven pre-school and elementary school teachers, in addition to friends and family and many others who were influential in her life. It was a very sweet walk down memory lane and all in all, she ended up with over 30 letters. Blue Letter Envelope is a meaningful program and I jumped at the opportunity to chair it this year. My son will be a senior next year and I have already signed on to chair 2015, as well.”
Letters can be mailed directly to the school or dropped off at the main office. (Letters dropped off directly to the school can be addressed “Blue Envelope-Childs Name”)
In order to ensure each student receives his or her letter, mailed letters need to be addressed in the following format: Student’s Full Name, c/o Stacie Miller, Newsome High School PTSA- Blue Letter Envelope, 16550 FishHawk Blvd., Lithia, FL 33547.
Some guidelines to keep in mind: Do not send in cards or letters larger than 8 x 10 inches. No packages; do not send anything of value to the school (cash, checks, gift cards, etc.). If sending several envelopes inside a larger envelope, please put the student’s full name on all envelopes in case they get separated. Keep letters and cards flat. All letters are due in to the school by Friday, May 9.
