Year 12 Students Passing On Wisdom

Finlay Farrell and his prep buddy, Hendrick Travis. Photo supplied

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From the playground to cooking, painting or having a laugh, St Catherine’s Catholic College’s oldest and youngest students are proving the gap between Prep and Year 12 isn’t quite as big as you’d think.

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Through the College’s annual Buddy Program, every Year 12 student is paired with a Prep student, building friendships that give the school’s youngest learners someone to look up to, while offering the graduating class their own opportunity to become mentors.  

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“With those buddy programs, I guess it’s kind of building that relationship between our junior students and our senior secondary students,” said Assistant Principal Bruce Laguna.  

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“It gives them that extra bit of purpose and leadership here at the College.”

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The program gives each pair plenty of opportunities to bond, whether through cooking, painting, moulding Play-Doh or heading out to the soccer fields, while also giving the Year 12s a chance to lend a hand in the classroom.

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“I really enjoy it, to be honest. I think it’s great that we get to build connections throughout the whole of the College,” said year 12 student, Finlay.

The project culminates with a new tradition at the school, which will see the prep students walk their year 12 students down the aisle for graduation.

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“Starting some traditions are really valuable and important, so that way we’ve got something significant for our future graduating students.”