We’ve always heard of the 6th & 9th grade buddies, and that it’s a time where the two grades interact. But it’s rare we hear what’s going on behind the scenes, what’s done to be prepared, and how the 9th graders feel. The 6th & 9th grade buddies program has been an important tradition at FWPA, something that almost all students here have experienced. A committee of 9th graders plan the activities for the two grades. It’s a once-a-month event where the buddies are together for their advisory time, playing games or doing ice-breakers to learn more about each other. Occasionally, the 9th graders also give tips to the 6th graders for their journey at FWPA. Although some of them have forgotten the memories they’ve made, others, like Maya Fraley, remember.
Maya Fraley, an 8th grader here at FWPA, still remembers her first time meeting the 9th grader assigned to her. While she does recall it being awkward at times, she still made memories that were worth remembering. “My buddies were pretty nice. I remember being nervous, and unsure of what to say, so I was quiet most of the time, but they still tried their best to make me feel comfortable,” she said. Her younger sister, Emma Fraley, is currently a 6th grader and gets to experience it too. “They’re definitely nice to me,” she said, referring to her 9th grade buddies. “It’s nice. Getting to talk to the older grades is definitely different.”
The 9th graders this year have worked hard for this event. Mrs. Kelly, an advisory teacher for the 9th graders, can agree to that. “This year, we have a really good group. They did almost everything for the buddies. I helped with the first one, and this year’s team did fabulous,” she said. This is her first year being in charge, as she’s taking over the role Mr. Filler usually has, and she’s impressed.
There’s a lot of new 9th graders this year who have never experienced this tradition. Itzel Zotea, a 9th grader who’s starting her first year at FWPA, never experienced something like this at her old school. “It’s pretty cool, actually. It’s like we’re mentors for them,” she explained. Lillianna Ordonez, a 9th grader who’s been here since 6th grade, truthfully wasn’t as excited to be a one of the 9th grade buddies. She did enjoy it when she was a 6th grader, but she was a little nervous about leading conversations, and talking to people she didn’t know. Despite that, the 9th graders have done their best to start up conversations.
Keep up the great work, 9th graders!
