Big Buddy Program
At ACDS, we take great pride in our Big Buddy Program, a heartwarming initiative that fosters cross-grade connections and enriches the educational experience for our students. This program pairs older children with their younger counterparts, creating unique bonds that extend beyond the traditional classroom setting.
Buddies are matched at the beginning of the year, and the relationships are nurtured all year long through weekly visits and activities on campus pairing the older and younger children.
The Big Buddies join their Little Buddies in a variety of classroom-based activities as well as outdoor play. They also partner with them in school-wide activities including the Cougar Games, Halloween Parade, and Thanksgiving Feast.
Every week, our students eagerly gather in the library and classrooms for planned meetings where they engage in a variety of activities, including collaborative reading sessions and special projects that ignite creativity and teamwork. In addition to these in-person interactions, our students become pen pals, eagerly exchanging handwritten letters, strengthening their communication skills while building lasting friendships. The Buddy Program is carefully supervised by dedicated faculty and staff, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for all participants.
The Big Buddies Program is an integral part of our social-emotional teaching, fostering the close, caring, and kind relationships that abound at our school, affording role models to the younger children, and providing eagerly anticipated leadership opportunities to children entering the upper Elementary and Middle School grades.