At TIGS, we uphold a clear vision that we are a safe community where care is active. It is also a lot of fun! We have a living tradition where our Year 5 students partner with Kindergarten students as Buddies to guide them through settling in routines, familiarisation of our school environment and as support throughout the year. Always super excited to meet their buddies each year, Year 5 students declared, ‘This is what I’ve been living for!’ Another student exclaimed, ‘I can’t wait to meet my buddy!” Yet another reminisced, ‘I loved my Year 5 buddy when I was in Kindy!”
Kindergarten students are in awe of their ‘big buddies’ and Year 5 students absolutely adore their ‘little ones’. Our Year 5 cohort have already helped Kindergarten students learn how to transition from play to class, assisted with their inquiry into Who We Are and established themselves as go-to, familiar friends in the playground. Year 5 students are practising their self-management, communication and social skills in everyday life experiences. Additionally, this programme is an opportunity to serve Kindergarten students and teachers and to hone leadership skills in preparation for Year 6. They embrace this role and often go beyond what is expected because of their genuine care and love.
Our first full week of school ended with our festive Teddy Bear’s Picnic celebration on the Play Lawn. It was full of food, laughter and blossoming friendships! This is an enduring programme where the connections and memories these students build together, strengthen the bonds within our community and continue throughout the year and into the future. We often have Junior School students stop in their tracks and wave in excitement if they see their ‘old buddy’ up in the Senior School.
Our parent community is already responding with comments through Seesaw and during carline – all sharing the same sentiment about how much their child values and loves their buddy. Our teachers are delighted to see how our Year 5 students have demonstrated such enthusiasm for service leadership and strong community care. We look forward to making even more memories together.
