Each year Island Pacific Academy brings together its oldest and youngest students in a Senior-Kinder Buddy Program with group activities every month; in the first half of 2015-2016, the Buddies met four times enjoying a semester of sharing.
In September the grade 12 students (Class of 2016) were paired with the kindergarteners (Class of 2028). “We have a large kindergarten class this year, so some seniors are lucky and have two kinder buddies,” explains Nydia Santiago-Cordero, Director of Student Activities, who helps to plan and coordinate the monthly Senior-Kinder meetings.
Seniors and Kindergarten students enjoy a snack while they meet each other for the first time in September. Kasey Nunies (’16) works to fill out a questionnaire about herself to help her Kinder Buddies learn more about her. Elijah Madayag (’16) smiles as he writes down a response from his Kinder Buddy on his form.
“You always hear similar reactions from the students when they are first introduced,” says Cordero. “Seniors will say ‘They’re so little! I could never have been this little!’ about the Kindergarten students. And the young students will be looking up in awe at the seniors.”
Aaryn Villamor (’16) listens to his Kinder Buddy tell him about himself during their introduction meeting in September.
Secondary Principal, Kip Cummings, initiated IPA’s Senior-Kinder Buddy program several years ago. “The program is a rite of passage for our seniors, another symbol of their growing maturity, and an opportunity to remember the joy of learning by seeing it all again through young eyes,” says Cummings.
Ashton Altares (’16) delights in carving out a pumpkin with his Kinder Buddy during their October activity.
“For some seniors, the program provides time to step into the role of the older sibling,” says Bernadette Axelrod, Director of Advancement and Communications. “This can be particularly meaningful if the senior student is the youngest child in his or her family or perhaps an only child,” she explains. “Not every senior has a large family with younger cousins or family may live far away. It’s very poignant to see how quickly the seniors and kindergarten students really do become attached to one another.”
Hunter Sorenson (’16) puts his thespian skills to good use engaging his Kinder Buddy as they get ready to scoop out their pumpkin.
“Kindergarten students look up to their senior buddy,” says Cordero. A student who starts at IPA in one of the elementary grades spends the majority of their time in the one division building. “To have an older student friend from the secondary building is thrilling to them, sort of like have an older brother or sister,” she explains.
In November, the Senior-Kinder buddies worked together to make paper gingerbread people decorations. Michael Lee (’16) coaxes a smile from his Kinder Buddy as they dress up their gingerbread man.
“By senior year, most secondary students take advantage of the dress code for outerwear and sport a college or university sweatshirt,” says Cummings. “This is fantastic for the kindergarten students to see because that is the end goal of a student’s time at IPA, to be prepared to go to college.”
Gabrielle del Banco (’16) listens to her Kinder Buddy as they start on their gingerbread girl decoration.
In December, the Seniors and their Kinder Buddies go on a walking field trip to nearby nursing and rehabilitation center, Ka Punawai Ola in Kapolei. Together the students perform and sing some traditional Christmas carols to the residents there.
IPA Seniors and Kindergarten students sing together for the residents of Ka Punawai Ola in December.
This end of the year service activity brings the Senior-Kinder Buddy program off the IPA campus and out into the community. Most of the residents at Ka Punawai Ola are senior citizens so having both teenagers and young children visit is a refreshing break.
IPA seniors and kindergarten students take time to talk to some of the residents of Ka Punawai Ola after their holiday performance there.
“One of the outcomes of the Senior-Kinder Buddy program is the realization for the students, both the younger and older, that true friendship has no age limits,” says Cummings.
