A sixth grader sent one letter to a random New York City school. She got 140 letters back — and eventually her own celebratory day at the school.
When a sixth-grade girl in Wichita, Kansas, began a simple school project, she never could have imagined the connections she would make that would change her life.
Her assignment? Send a letter to a school in another part of the country and see if they write back.
But when young Phoebe Patton of Wichita sent a letter to a girls’ school in New York City, she didn’t just find a pen pal. Notre Dame School of Manhattan sent back an entire binder full of 140 letters and hosted her for an in-person, all-day celebration. They declared it “Phoebe Patton Day” and even confirmed her as an honorary alumna.
You can watch the entire story here, where Phoebe’s mother, Grace Patton, shared it on her popular Instagram page:
140 letters and a surprise party
Phoebe had unknowingly written to a very special Catholic girls’ school, Notre Dame School Of Manhattan, founded in 1912 by the Sisters of St. Ursula.
“Chez Nous sisters,” as the school’s alumnae are called (chez nous means “our home” in French), always knew their school was special. But this sweet viral story is sharing the school’s remarkably warm and welcoming culture with the rest of the world.
Scott Vasey, Chair of the English Department at Notre Dame School, shared the school’s side of the story with Aleteia:
Phoebe sent a letter to a random school in New York. We just happened to be that school. It was part of a school project, and we decided that instead of just sending her one letter back, we would send her about 140 letters back from our seniors and juniors. We included a bunch of school merch and tried to go overboard for this little girl in Wichita and really come through for her school project.
That exchange was the beginning of a months-long relationship. The Patton family responded with photos and emails, and Phoebe continued to stay in touch with the Ursuline school.
Pretty soon the family mentioned that Phoebe was going to be in New York City with her aunt, and she'd love to stop by the school, and that was exactly what our seniors wanted to hear. So they decided that they wanted to welcome Phoebe kind of like a queen, and it was a blast. So when she came, the seniors wanted to go overboard and really make it a great day for her.
The school’s president and principal signed a framed certificate declaring it “Phoebe Patton Day,” announcing that she would forever be an honorary Class of 2026 Chez Nous Sister. She got an official Class of 2026 sweatshirt with her name on it, plus candy from around New York and stuffed animals. The school held a pizza party with cupcakes for her and all the seniors signed a giant “Welcome Phoebe” banner.
The sweet stroke of luck that connected the Pattons with Notre Dame School showcases the warmth and kindness of a great Catholic girls’ school.
As Vasey told Aleteia, “In addition to just producing brilliant young women that go off to do amazing things, you will not find a nicer, kinder, funnier, more selfless group of girls than the 360 we have here.”
For over 100 years, Notre Dame has had a reputation for its warm and family-like environment. U.S. News & World Report even recognized it as one of the “outstanding high schools” in the U.S. This unexpected connection with a little girl from Kansas is a powerful witness to just how warm and loving that “Chez Nous family” is—and now it includes one young lady in the Midwest.
