After months of correspondence, students in Hannah Henson’s fifth grade class at Churchill School got to meet their favorite pen pal Monday.

Cheers went up in the classroom when Principal Tara Peacock escorted Chicago Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson in for a surprise visit with the 23 students.

At the start of the school year, Henson had her students write letters to Bears players and Jackson started a steady correspondence with the students. He is in his fourth season as an NFL player, but this was his first year with the Bears. He said he was touched by their letters.

“It meant a lot to me. You guys, you’ve got to know that your letters made a world of difference in my life and other people’s eyes that are on the team as well,” Jackson told the class. “I let them all see the stuffed animal (Walter Pa-tater) you made. I just want to say thank you and you guys are awesome.”

He went around the classroom high-fiving students and giving each an autograph.

Henson’s lessons are filled with Bears history, as well as information on players and fans. Before Jackson’s arrival, students were working on reading comprehension. The paragraph they analyzed was on the loyal Bears fans, their tailgating at Soldier Field and the Bears fight song, which the students sang for Jackson.

Henson’s also reinforced positivity using role model former Bears player Walter Payton, the running back who played for 13 seasons with the Bears. He won numerous honors, including the AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 1977. 

Henson crocheted a Walter Pa-tater, the size of a potato in a Payton jersey, that’s a character in the room used to encourage students to do their best. 

“Walter Payton is such a great inspiration and someone they can look up to and strive to be,” the teacher said. 

She also uses the Bears slogan “Good. Better. Best.” to encourage her students.

Henson said she’s been a Bears fan for years. 

“My entire family has been die-hard Bears fans since as long as I can remember.” 

Henson was in the stands at Soldier Field when Jackson played in the Dec. 14 game against the Cleveland Browns. Jackson was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after that game. She’d love to be at Sunday’s game against the LA Rams.

There’s heightened excitement in the fifth-grade classroom as the Bears continue their quest for a Super Bowl title in 2026.

Student Nora Meeks, whose favorite player is quarterback Caleb Williams, watched the game Saturday, Jan. 10, against the Packers in a come-from-behind 31-27 win. Nora said that her favorite part was “when they came back and showed the Packers that they’re the Bears and you don’t want to lose.”