At Meadowridge School, education goes beyond academics. It’s about building community, encouraging empathy, and fostering connections. The Kinderbuddies program embodies these values, pairing our youngest Kindergarteners with our oldest (Grade 12) to create meaningful relationships.
Kindergarten teacher Ms. Courtney Higginson shares, “One of the goals is to remind Grade 12s, during their busiest year, of the importance of play for their well-being and success.”
This week, the Class of 2025 met their Kinderbuddies for the first time during a free-play day. The program provides a platform for students to bond across grades, with older students serving as mentors and role models while kindergarteners take the role of mentees and gain a sense of support and belonging right from their early years. The program helps Kindergarten students transition smoothly into school life, knowing they have a familiar face to guide them. Older students, in turn, learn responsibility, leadership, and empathy as they support their younger buddies. These cross-grade connections strengthen Meadowridge’s sense of community, reinforcing that every student is an integral part of the school.
