The bell rings, signally the start of lunchtime at Indian Trail. But you wouldn’t know it. The usual chaos that often accompanies the start of lunch – children running to the cafeteria, yelling to their friends – is gone. Instead, students walk calmly, smiling, using their inside voices to chat with those around them.
What happened?
It’s a remarkably easy answer: the Indian Trail Lunch Buddies Program.
Last year, Indian Trail paired students of different ages together for its Reading Buddies Program. Sixth graders with kindergartners; fifth graders with first graders; and so on. An element of social-emotional learning, this program gave older students the opportunity to be a positive role model to a younger child, and it offered the little ones the chance to befriend and learn from an older student. Monthly, the buddies would join their complete Reading Family – groups comprising one or two students from each grade – and connect all together.
It was a huge success.
This year, Indian Trail staff expanded its Reading Buddies Program to lunchtime. When the period begins, older students visit the younger classroom and pick up their buddy. They walk – often hand-in-hand – to the cafeteria together. They pick up their lunch boxes and enjoy lunch and recess together, along with other members of their extended Reading Family.
The idea stemmed from a collaborative social-emotional learning brainstorming effort among Indian Trail staff. They were hopeful this idea would take off, but they were incredibly happy to see just how well it was received.
“No one is alone at recess. While there used to be someone who might sit alone at lunchtime, there isn’t now,” said Indian Trail LRC Director Taffy Sanger. “Every single kid in this school has a buddy and a family. It’s fantastic.”
Fifth grade teacher Sandy Leff also noticed many subtle, yet impactful, changes.
“We are building a community to make our school a better place,” Leff said. “The cafeteria is cleaner, quieter and less chaotic. Kids are respectful of their buddies and want to behave well for them. “
Principal Robin Bruebach added that “students are feeling a sense of community, which shows through their actions at recess and in the hallways. Although there have been some bumps in the road, overall we are feeling positive about the change.”
Walking around the Indian Trail cafeteria at lunchtime, it’s hard not to smile. Everyone has a friend. Everyone has a family. And they all appear to be having fun together.
For example, students Kristin, Jozette and Damen all sit together at a table. “I really like the Lunch Buddies program,” said Jozette, a sixth grader. “Our buddies are all really cool.”
“Lunchtime is more loving and more fun than last year,” added sixth grader Kristin, who quickly followed up with, “By the way, my name is Kristin, with an ‘i.’”
Kindergartner Damen studied his buddy carefully, turned, and proudly mirrored her saying, “My name is Damen, with a ‘D’!”