Buddies

Each lower grade level is matched with an upper grade “buddy.”  The grades are paired as follows:  Preschool with Fourth, Kindergarten with Fifth, First with Sixth, Second with Seventh, and Third with Eighth.  Ninth graders, in preparation for high school will not have buddies but will be encouraged to help all students throughout the school.

All time spent in the Honor Club will be spent with Buddies.  Buddies go to the School Camp Week with each other.

Each year each of the upper grade buddies creates a publication for their lower grade buddies and dedicates the original manuscript to them.  For example, the seventh grade is paired with the second grade.  They will choose a topic to be covered by the younger buddies during the spring semester.  The seventh graders will come up with setting, theme, plot, characters, style and genre.  They will create a chapter book that the teacher can use throughout the second graders unit.  The story must be unique, original and age appropriate.  The seventh graders must also provide activities, discussion questions, etc. that go along with the book.  The seventh graders will “read aloud” all or part of the publication with their buddies.  The seventh graders will prepare an official “books on tape (or CD)” to be given to the second graders as an end of the school year gift.  The seventh graders will work with the second graders in individual groups to do an extension project for the publication.  The seventh graders will prepare a bulletin board that can be used and added to during the publication.

Academy Mission Statement

As an Educational Institution we strive to foster creative, critical, logical thinkers who exploit their unique talents in original ways to become active, self-sufficient, contributing respectful members of society living positive values on their journey of life-long learning.

As a Teaching Institution we strive to foster creative, critical, logical Educators who exploit their unique talents in original ways to become active, self-sufficient, contributing respectful members of society living positive values on their journey of life-long learning and are well prepared and do equip the students entrusted to their care with these same attributes.