In 1964 author Jeff Brown wrote f children’s book about a little boy named Stanley who was accidentally squashed flat by a falling bulletin board. Stanley wasn’t hurt. But he ended up very flat; flat enough to be put in an envelope and mailed. Teachers saw the story of Flat Stanley as a great opportunity to encourage reading and writing in their students. Thus began the Flat Stanley Project which involved almost the whole world.

Last month (March, 2007) a paper Stanley arrived in Taraz. A schoolgirl from Pleasant Hill (USA, California) mailed him to our school where he was warmly greeted by children. We wrote a kind of a diary about the visit and made photos. At present time Stanley is coming back home to present our school and the city to American children.

But it's not the end of the story. We want to start our own project in Kazakhstan with our hero. He will encourage the school children to use their language skills in practice and expand the boundaries of communication.

So I appeal to the former and present students of school No 3: we need your ideas! Help us to find a hero. Very soon a number of teachers from other regions of Kazakhstan are expected to participate in the project. Your idea may become the best!

With best wishes,

There are some pictures of Stanley’s trip round the world:

And some pictures at our school: