We encourage the children from different classes and different levels to play together and to look out for each other. We see this inter -class communication as playing an important part in maintaining our inclusive school. To strengthen inter -class communication, we ‘buddy’ every class in the school with another class in September each year. This Buddy System encourages the older children in the school to look out for the younger children, to get to know them and to support them.
The older children are given opportunities to be leaders and to model good and responsible behaviour. All of the children benefit from the Buddy System and they enjoy spending time with their buddies. Sometimes the buddy classes will do curricular activities together (e.g. Art, Science or Reading), sometimes they just enjoy social time together.
At whole school assemblies, the Junior Infants often sit beside their Sixth class buddies which helps them to relax and enjoy the assembly better