Sometimes the biggest impact starts with something small– like a letter.
This year, students at Highland Springs High School and Fair Oaks Elementary built something meaningful through a pen pal program led by their CIS Site Coordinators. Letter by letter, they showed up for each other—sharing stories, encouragement, and a reminder that someone is always in your corner.
By the end of the year, those connections had grown into something real. Fair Oaks students visited Highland Springs (which in a few short years will be home for them) for a “Let’s Taco ‘Bout It” lunch, where pen pals met face-to-face over tacos, games, and a whole lot of joy.
It may look like a simple lunch—but it’s so much more.
It’s a younger student feeling seen and heard.
It’s an older student stepping into leadership and realizing their voice matters.
It’s both of them experiencing a sense of belonging—together. Creating connections through shared, and new experiences.
This is the CIS 5 Basics in action. Through moments like these, students experience the power of a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult as Site Coordinators create spaces where trust and connection can grow. They find safe places to learn and grow, where schools become communities filled with encouragement, joy, and support. They experience a healthier future through relationships that support emotional well-being and connection. Older students build leadership, communication, and mentorship skills that become marketable skills upon graduation, while younger students begin to imagine what’s possible for themselves. And maybe most importantly, students are given a chance to give back to their peers and community–showing kindness, leadership, and care across generations of students.
Moments like this remind us that connection doesn’t just happen, it’s created. And when it is, it sticks.
Huge thanks to our Site Coordinators for bringing this to life. You didn’t just organize a program—you built a bridge between students, schools, and futures.
Because at CIS, the tiny wins? They’re everything.
