Although only 25 miles separate Mattapoisett and Cuttyhunk, in many ways their residents live in different worlds. This week those worlds are converging as students from Old Hammondtown School host two students from Cuttyhunk Elementary, which just so happens to be the entire population of the small island school.

A few months ago, Michelle Carvalho, the principal and teacher of the only functioning one-room schoolhouse in the state, began looking for a school “off island” that would be interested in collaborating with hers.

“It’s crucial that students learn from each other,” Carvalho said.

With only two students, siblings Carter and Gwen Lynch, collaboration is limited.

After receiving Carvalho’s inquiry, Mattapoisett Principal Rose Bowman spread the word to her staff, and sixth grade science teacher Ben Squire volunteered.

“I thought it’d be a good experience for the kids…realizing there’s something so close, but so different,” said Squire.

He began working with Carvalho to coordinate science lessons in December. Now, about twice a week, the Mattapoisett and Cuttyhunk students have video chat sessions on Google Hangout to discuss their projects, share their thoughts on homework and collaborate on lessons.

Squire said last week a group of his students and the Lynches set up their respective experiments on worms and then video chatted about their projects. Sometimes the classes review answers together as well.

“The kids are always so curious about what Gwen and Carter came up with in their answers,” he said.

Meeting face to face has been something akin to meeting a pen pal, though Gwen, a fifth grader said video chatting is “better than writing a letter.”

“Now they’re making the human connection, it adds a little more depth,” said Carvalho.

Carter, a sixth grader, said being in a normal sized classroom is a “little weird.”

“The classroom looks a little bit different then when we’re doing the video calls,” he said. “It’s pretty cool.”

Squire said the Lynches were excited about getting their own locker, something they don’t have on the island.

Said Gwen, “I think it’s cool that a small school gets to see a bigger school.”

She and her brother are shadowing Squire’s homeroom through all of their classes.

Sofia Martins, one of three girls in Gwen’s science group, said, “It’s cool how we can have so many things that are so similar and can interact. We’re lucky because not all the other classes got to do this.”

The Mattapoisett students hope they can take a trip to Cuttyhunk before the school year is out. They’ve already made fast friends.

All four girls at Gwen’s table answered a quick “yes” when asked if they would stay in touch after this visit, and Gwen is urging them to make the trip to Cuttyhunk.

“You’re so close! All you need to do is get in a boat and skip across the water!”