Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Burl Heights students, teachers highlight long‑running 'Big Buddies' mentoring program
Summary
Principal Jennifer Freedlander presented Burl Heights Elementary's 'Big Buddies' program to the Redondo Beach Unified school board, describing weekly kindergarten–fifth grade pairings tied to curriculum and social‑emotional learning and featuring student testimonials about improved belonging and responsibility.
Jennifer Freedlander, principal of Burl Heights Elementary, told the Redondo Beach Unified school board that the school’s “Big Buddies” program has paired kindergarteners with fifth graders for more than four decades and gives students weekly, teacher‑matched opportunities to build relationships and practice social and academic skills.
“The program pairs up only a kindergartener and a fifth grader,” Freedlander said, explaining teachers intentionally match students after the start of the year so relationships address individual needs. She described weekly 20–30 minute sessions tied to classroom curriculum — for example, a puppet activity connected to kindergarten science standards — and said the pairing supports social‑emotional learning goals in the district’s strategic plan.
Students who participated in a short video and live presentation told the board the program helps new students make friends and gives older students a chance to practice responsibility and leadership. “When I first came to Burl I was scared... but that all changed on the day we got Big Buddies,” one student said.
Freedlander also described school‑wide events that bring buddies together, including assemblies and promotion ceremonies where kindergarteners and fifth graders perform for one another. She cited parent anecdotes — one parent emailed that a buddy match endured through middle and high school — to illustrate the program’s long‑term social value.
The presentation concluded with Freedlander thanking teachers (Mrs. Beno and Mrs. James), kindergarten staff (Miss Collins) and the PTA president (Mrs. Walsh) and inviting photos with student participants. The board did not take any formal action on the program during the meeting.
Freedlander framed Big Buddies as an early‑intervention strategy that supports goal setting, problem solving and self‑management among younger students while giving older students mentoring experience that can boost confidence and school engagement.
