Buddy Program
In an effort to build student-student relationships across grade levels, the Buddy Program was developed and implemented in fall 2006. Middle school students (grades 6-8) are linked up with younger students (grades K-5). Each middle school student is partnered with 1-3 younger buddies to serve as mentors. Throughout the school year, there are various organized “Buddy Activities” during which time the buddy groups spend time together to accomplish a particular project and/or goal. Although these activities always have learning standards built in, the students view these Buddy Days as times for fun and play with their older and younger buddies.
The Buddy partnerships are assigned at the beginning of the school year. A Buddy Activity takes place within the first month to introduce students to each other and to get them interacting with each other as early as possible. Students look forward to learning who their buddies are and are regularly excited to participate in Buddy Activities. Thanks, in part, to the Buddy Program, students' interactions across grade levels are apparent on a daily basis during recess and lunchtime play.