Last spring, a group of 9th graders took a walk about once a month to the elementary school to meet with the 3rd-grade class to play games and do other fun activities. This group was led by their advisor Ms. Fountain, and the students that participated were: Mason Brothers, Lindsey Gearwar, Juliana Flanders, and Ash Lees. 

The third graders referred to the high schoolers as their big buddies, like the old program where the 6th graders would mentor and help teach the younger students.  

The older kids met up with the 3rd grade class four times during DEAR/WIN Block. Most of the meet-ups would start with a game or craft and end with a snack. It had to be something simple because they only had 40 minutes with the kids. In December, they built snow puppets and had a puppet show and then a snack.

“It's great to watch the high school students helping the 3rd graders. They all seem to have a good time together,” Ms. Fountain said.

“This program was good for both classes; the younger kids felt cool hanging out with the older kids and the older kids got to give back to the community,” Mason said. He added that he wished he had something like this when he was in elementary school because he thought he would have enjoyed it.

“I really liked getting to know the kids and doing small activities with them,” Lindsey said. The students wish this program had more people because it was hard to deal with all the kids and give equal attention to them with only four high school students. 

“People rarely give back to the community and this is a very good time for people to do it,” Mason said. 

For the last get-together in May, the high school students led the 3rd graders in a scavenger hunt at the Green and in front of the Marble Museum looking at the structures and history of Marble in Proctor. Then they played a team-building game called Hot Chocolate River where they had to get everyone across the “river” without falling in. 

 “If I'm able to, I'm going to continue this program with my new advisory group next year,” Ms. Fountain said. 

This wish is also shared by the students who participated in this program.  “I think that all classes should do it with the different elementary classes,” Mason said.