By: Sophie Delaporte, MYP French/Spanish Teacher

Once a month, grade 7 and grade 2 students at MKIS come together for a unique buddy program designed to foster connections across grade levels and strengthen our school community. This initiative aligns with our advisory goal of helping grade 7 students develop leadership skills, empathy, and maturity.

Each grade 7 student has been paired with one or two grade 2 buddies. During the first session, they took time to get to know each other by discussing their interests and passions. Together, they filled out a Venn diagram to highlight what they had in common and what made each of them unique. Following this, grade 7 students wrote letters to their buddies, expressing how much they enjoyed meeting and learning about them.

In the second session, grade 7 buddies selected books from the library that would interest their grade 2 friends. They read together and shared their thoughts on the stories. Grade 2 students also introduced characters they’d invented for a story in English, giving grade 7 students the chance to listen, encourage creativity, and even contribute ideas. In return, grade 2 buddies wrote letters expressing their appreciation for their older friends.

This ongoing program is set to continue with new activities each month, with the next session focused on a collaborative building challenge. Through each activity, grade 7 students have the opportunity to lead, listen, and connect meaningfully, helping to build a lasting sense of community and mutual respect across age groups at MKIS. We’re excited to see how these relationships deepen and inspire leadership in our students as the year progresses!