Press Release

February 9, 1999

For Immediate Release

MYSTERY FIFTH-GRADER TO BE " SWORN IN" AS POSTMASTER OF ASBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL POST OFFICE

The opening celebration of Asbury Elementary School's "Wee Deliver" program will be held tomorrow (Thursday, February 11) beginning at 12:30 p.m. when a yet-unnamed student will be formally sworn-in as Postmaster of Asbury Post Office.

Postmaster Mike Flores will conduct the ceremony, which will launch the literacy-based program.

Asbury has set up an actual post office in the building. Various classrooms throughout the school are assigned their own ZIP codes, corridors are known by street names, and students are able to correspond with each other by mail. The program is an enrichment activity that gives the students an excellent "hands on" learning experience. Many teachers are excited about applying this program, which is tied to district standards on reading and writing.

Student letter carriers, sorters, and stamp designers will staff the Asbury post office. The students will wear postal uniforms, complete with the Asbury school mascot. When addressing envelopes students are expected to use the proper headings, otherwise the letter may be stamped ''return to sender.'' giving these students a realistic picture of how the postal system works. The program will run on a daily basis for a month.

Asbury Elementary School is located at 1320 E. Asbury Ave. For more information, call principal Lynne Tucker at, 722-4695.