K. C. Heffernan Elementary School Bus Buddy Program

For a Kindergarten student entering school, a school bus ride can be the biggest challenge. The K.C. Heffernan Elementary School Site-based Team has taken a giant step toward reducing the challenge and enhancing the bus ride experience for Kindergarten students. K.C. Heffernan Elementary School, under the guidance of Gary Bissaillon, Principal, and Peggy Morocco, Site-based Team parent representative, has initiated an innovative “Bus Buddy” Program. The focus of the “Bus Buddy” program is to provide Kindergarten students with a 4th, 5th, or 6th grade “buddy” on the school bus. According to Morocco and Bissaillon, the senior buddies will present a friendly face and an older mentor for the Kindergarten students. The senior buddies will essentially “look out” for their younger peers. The program is voluntary with Kindergarten parents having the choice of signing up their child for the bus buddy initiative. 4th, 5th and 6th grade students volunteered to be senior buddies with DMS Principal Michael Dardaris and KCH Principal Gary Bissaillon screening all of the senior buddy volunteers. The program got off to an exciting start as participating Kindergarten students (junior buddies) had the opportunity to meet their senior buddies on February 11th in the KCH cafeteria. After introducing the buddies Morocco posted some “ice breaker” questions to get things rolling:

“How many pets do you have, and what are their names?’

“What is your favorite food?”

“Who is your favorite super hero?”

Senior and junior buddies shared snacks and refreshments as they got to know each other with the intent of easing the challenge of the bus ride to and from school. Driver Middle School students serving as “senior buddies” include:
Morgan Mitchell
Allison Field
Brianna Dever-Nencetti
Emily Weeks
Kate Morris
Elizabeth Hammerschmidt
Tori Boos
Emily Alexander
Mikenzie Lader
Michael Brown
Sean Libera
Lauren Brown
Kendall Koloski
Sarah Posecznick
Makayla Spicer
Michael Spicer
Lisa Morocco
Nick Zimmer
Brendan Shanahan
Rebecca Searle
In addition to Morocco and Bissaillon the following KCH and DMS staff members participated in the senior/junior bus buddy meeting: Michael Dardaris/Principal Driver Middle School (DMS), Kayla Hill/Assistant Principal DMS, and Lorraine Reynolds/DMS counselor.