Buddy Groups and Buddy Activities are an important part of Chapin’s Character Development Program. We believe that our older students are great role models and mentors for our younger students and indirect teaching takes place when Buddies get together. Surprisingly, our young students have just as much of an affect on on our older students. The Buddy System creates a mutually beneficial relationship. Both Buddies look forward to seeing each other on campus, whether at an assembly or simply via a wave and a smile when passing each other in the hall.
What exactly are Buddies?
Buddies are students matched up by grade level: 4thgraders with Pre-K, 5th graders with Kindergartners, 6th graders with 1st graders, 7th graders with 2nd graders, and 8th graders with 3rd graders.
So, what do Buddies do when they get together and why is it so special?
There are a range of activities that Buddies do when they get together. Buddies will often read books about our virtues, explore cultural holidays or complete a project (such as the Virtue Quilts hanging in the main hallway of our school) that is age appropriate for our younger students. For example, each year the Buddy Groups make monthly placemats for a near-by nursing home, or they may put care packages together for soldiers fighting overseas. Often times, faculty members create a fun activity based on the five virtues that the buddies can work on together. Sometimes it is as simple as playing an old fashioned game of Go Fish or tag. These types of activities help the older students balance their lives as adolescents with the responsibility of being role models for our younger students. Learning to care and share with one's very own Buddy is part of the Chapin experience.