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A Holiday Celebration with our Big Buddies

As always there was great anticipation for our big buddy day. Prior to their coming, we revisited the Genius 15 topics to refresh their memories. I was very impressed that most of our preschoolers remembered their big buddies's names; even the ones who have two buddies! Our plan for Genius 15 this visit was for the groups to create a multi-dimensional representation of their topic. Our hope was that they could take the knowledge they have gathered from their research and use it to create a piece of  art. We believe children 'speak' in many languages and it is our job to invite them to use these languages to express themselves.

We collected various materials, everything from elastic bands to wire to foam to tape to fabric to cotton balls to boxes and on and on. As soon as the teams were paired up, they set to work. There was this intense and focused energy in the room as big and small buddies collected materials from the art table. Designs were discussed, debates over the 'best' way to do something transpired and soon the wheels were in motion to create their piece. The creativity and ingenuity revealed by these students was impressive. All the teachers were totally in awe of their work- these kids are smart! I especially loved the way the big buddies gently supported the little buddies, knowing the little buddies needed help to articulate their ideas. Sadly, I took loads of photos but they have faces so I cannot post them here.

We also had a plan to write Christmas stories and sing Christmas songs but time was too short! Luckily,  we managed to sneak time in for the stories the Dixon students wrote. They had worked hard on re-writing a fairytale (known as a fractured fairy tale). They brought their stories with them and read them to their little buddy. I listened to a few of them and was most impressed with their humour and ability to use sarcasm and irony. The preschoolers listened on a whole other level, one that is equally important and far less judgemental. They listened with complete admiration and even though they probably did not understand a lot of it, they enjoyed the stories anyway.


This is an exploration of playgrounds-monkey bars and a slide.

This is a robot relating to the topic of  electronics.

After Genius 15, we decorated gingerbread cookies.  Needless to say, everyone, including the teachers, had a blast decorating cookies with lots of icing and candy. Soon, they were gobbled up, fuelling us with energy to take outside to the playground.


Walking as fast their feet could walk without being accused of running, everyone bounded down the hallway to get to the playground. They rushed onto the equipment, little buddies in awe of the big buddy's ability to hang effortlessly from the money bears, jump onto swings with ease and dig deep deep holes in the sandbox. I chuckled to myself as I saw this humongous hole and knew it could not been the work of my preschoolers who try to dig holes every day but are about 1/16 the depth! What a few years can do…

It was time to part our ways and I love this moment- big buddies hugging little buddies, shouting goodbye and thank you repeatedly, knowing we all had a wonderful time being and creating together. Also, the warmth of knowing we will get to see each other next month and will deepen our friendships.

As a side note, the Dixon students had a Bollywood Dance session last week. Miele's older brother goes to the school so she got to see them all dancing, even Mr Vines!  I was so happy she connected with her buddy and this class on a level outside of our arranged visits. This is why we do these programs; to build bridges within  our community, to create long lasting relationships with those who live around us. Thank you West Richmond Community for being such a wonderful place for our children to grow up!

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