As part of a year long curricular, service learning and cultural exchange program developed by 5th grade teachers as part of Dalton's Global Initiatives, this Skype event brought students together in a way that, as one student said, "went way beyond pen pals." This student went on to say, "We could actually hear their voices and answer their questions. It was so cool." Other initiatives this year included a cultural exchange where 5th grade Dalton students created movies highlighting neighborhoods of NYC, while students in Cairo reciprocated with neighborhood movies of their own. Future Skype conversations, a service learning project on water conservation and other curricular activities are planned for the remainder of the year.

Submitted by Tracy Fedonchik, Inanna Donnelley, Paul McElfresh and Stacey Lorentz