A 5th-grader’s message in a bottle found in France, 26 years later

BOSTON, M.A. (WWAY) — A school district in Massachusetts is living out a nineties’ movie fairy tale.

An elementary school in Sandwich County received an unexpected delivery, decades in the making.

“It was a letter completely in French from this gentleman in France,” revealed Sandwich Public Schools Superintendent Joe Maruszczak.

A package with a letter inside, sent from a French fisherman, arrived at the school. It detailed a historic discover he’d recently made across the pond.

“He was actually combing the beach for trash, picking up different items. And that’s when he came upon the bottle and on the outside of the bottle, this was there,” added Oak Ridge School Assistant Principal Brandy Clifford.

The message inside dated October 1997. It was written by then fifth grader, Benjamin Lyons.

The bottle was part of a science project about ocean currents, erosion, and climate change.

Lyons now lives in the D.C. area, but his parents still reside in the community.

“His folks have relayed to the district, you know, that they’re just really, really pleased,” continued Maruszczak. “And it’s kind of like one of those things that just brings a smile to your face.”

The contents of the bottle, and the letter, are now planned to be displayed inside the elementary school.

While there is no easy way to find out how exactly the bottle traveled so far, Maruszczak thinks “that’s what we’re kind of in awe of.”

The discovery, and correspondence between the French fisherman and the school district, has current staff and students a buzz.

The district wrote back to the French fisherman and is hoping that he can talk remotely with one of their French classes about his discovery.