For the Good of the Whole
Lowell’s buddy program sparks lasting connections and pride in learning Community is at the heart of the Lowell experience, and the school’s new crossdivisional buddy program is building relationships that help students learn from one another and grow together. In the fall of 2022, with the emergency safety measures of the pandemic largely behind us, Lowell’s three division leaders—Nathalie in the Pre-Primary School, Justin in the Primary School, and Kavan in the Middle School—put their heads together to develop a buddy program that would encourage collaboration between grades, build long-term mentor connections, and inspire students to become leaders for their community. Buddy groups met once a month in different venues, like the dance studio, the Berkeley library, or the Pre-Primary playground. Eighth graders were paired with 3rd graders, 7th graders with 2nd graders, 6th with 1st, 5th with Kindergarten, and 4th with Pre-Primary friends. These pairings will continue in the coming years, allowing students to stick with their buddies as they progress through each grade level. All three directors agree this was an essential piece of the program’s design, allowing time and space for deep relationships to grow naturally. After 8th-grade buddies graduate, rising 4th graders are introduced to a brand new class of Pre-Primary students and transition from mentee to mentor. At first, some students were wary of each other and stuck close to peers in their class. However, “get to know you” games like human bingo and scavenger hunts
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THE LEAD FALL 2023
