Penn-Trafford School District recently celebrated its annual Big Buddy Day, a long-standing tradition that has connected high school students with elementary students for over two decades. The event is part of the district’s Big Buddy program, sponsored by the high school CAP Club (Community Action Program). This year’s initiative was led by CAP member, senior Chloe Walton.
Throughout the school year, high school students who volunteered to serve as “big buddies” were paired with third-grade students from each of Penn-Trafford’s five elementary schools. The buddy pairs exchanged letters over several months, sharing information about their hobbies, families, and school experiences. In their letters, the older students also offered encouragement and promoted values such as hard work, community service, and helping at home.
In mid-April, the buddies made the best of a rainy day by meeting in the high school cafeteria. CAP volunteers managed carnival-themed games featuring Connect-4, cornhole, hula hoops, soccer, football, potato sack race, jump rope, and more. The buddies shared snacks and enjoyed spending time together with an extra treat of Kona Ice.
“Many of the high school buddies remember doing this in 3rd grade and their own big buddies,” remarked CAP sponsor Mrs. Popovich. “They wanted to make this day fun and equally as memorable for their little buddies.”
Faiz Khatri (grade 11) and his brother Adil (Sunrise Elementary) shared a ‘buddy’ moment
Harrison Park 3rd-graders Alyona Krowchak and Kassidy Savering (center) with their high school buddies, Isabella Matteo and Lillian Blystone
Level Green 3rd-grader Annie Kubany and 10th-grader Abigail Punturi
Allison Krier (grade 11), Izzy Laing (McCullough 3rd-grade), Ayda Robinson (grade 11), and Gia Capoccioni (McCullough 3rd-grade)
Trafford students Ben Wesolowski and Eliza Crawford with their buddy, Jake McGhee (center)
Luke Fox and his buddy John Vales (Trafford Elementary)
Mila Oliech (Sunrise Elementary) and her buddy, Rachel Ambrose
Harrison Park 3rd-grader Emilia Levy and her buddy Hanna Weishaar
Shannon Prater and her McCullough buddy, Natalie Caldwell
John Zarod and Level Green 3rd-grader Joey Kubany