The class of 2014 boarded a bus bound for the lower school on Oct. 11 to meet their buddies in grade 3 for the first event in this year’s Eagle Buddies program. Eagle Buddies was started last year as a way to provide a bridge between the lower and upper schools by having students in grade 10 pair up with students in grade 3, beginning a relationship between the two classes that will last until the sophomores graduate and the third graders move on to the middle school.

The third grade students’ anticipation ran high, and they cheered and chanted “Eagle Buddies!” as their 10th graders’ buses approached. Sophomores met their buddies with smiles and soon struck up conversations on the Bucknall blacktop. A short while later, the pairs of students enjoyed lunch and conversation at the picnic area.

“I just like interacting with all the younger kids,” said Sahithya Prakash, grade 10. “It brings out the kid in me.”

“I’ve never had a younger sibling, so I think it’s a really good experience,” said Regina Chen, grade 10.

During their afternoon together, Russell Yang, grade 3, chatted about the Family and Alumni Picnic with his 10th grade buddy Richard Min, and learned that Min has, “been here since sixth grade, and his sister likes Pokemon.”

After lunch, the buddies took to the playground for tetherball, handball, soccer and other fun activities before the sophomores said goodbye for the day.