RIPON - Brooke Brogan was the hit of her third-grade class at Ripon’s Park View Elementary School last week after receiving a manila envelope from the White House in Washington, D.C., that included a letter from President Obama and pictures of the First Family.

The letter was part of a school room project centered on the “Flat Stanley” reader by Jeff Brown that encourages children to write letters to people around the U.S.  The book’s character cutout, Flat Stanley, is so flat he fits into a mailing envelope.

Teacher Kathy Woodson said that Brooke was instrumental in getting the letter together and off to President Barack Obama and the White House staff.  Students have received correspondence from all over the United States as evidenced on a map on the classroom wall with mostly postcards they have received in return.

Woodson said she had sent an instructional letter home to parents telling them the class had finished reading the Flat Stanley book in class and asking them to address and stamp a legal size envelope to a family member or friend outside of California and send it back to school – “and our Stanleys will begin their adventures” she wrote.

“The students get so excited as the postcards start coming in,” she added.  All were surprised to see the large envelope from the White House come out of their school room mailbox.

In the case of the President, his response noted the arrival of the cutout of “Flat Stanley” when the Brooke’s envelope was opened in the nation’s capital.

“Thank you for sending Flat Stanley to the White House.  I am pleased to report that he worked hard, listened carefully and had a lot of fun,” the President’s letter stated.

“He told me how surprised he was by the important role reading, writing, math and science all play in my job,” Obama wrote.

The Park View third grader was impressed with the photograph she received of “The First Dog,” the unofficial title of the family dog at the White House.  Bo was a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy and his wife Vicki.  She learned that the goal of the First Dog was to make friends with foreign dignitaries, and its favorite food is tomatoes.

Brooke said she hopes someday to be a counselor like her mom Jennifer, who works in that capacity at Enoch High School in Modesto – so she, too,  can help people.   She said she is also looking forward to playing basketball in school – her dad Paul is a basketball coach at Modesto Junior College.

As for chores at home, Brooke likes to help her mom in the kitchen, especially with making spaghetti for dinner – her favorite.  Also at home is her nine-year-old brother Troy whom she pairs up with as they ride their Electric Razor scooters.

“I like math too – all kinds of math and history of the world,” she said.