By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
What little kid wouldn't want to create art, write stories and play with the "big" kids? A new Hays USD 489 offers all of that and helps the children make BUDS along the way.
The BUDS program, which stands for believing, uniting, discovering and succeeding, partners Hays High School English students with Roosevelt Elementary School kindergarteners.
Some of the big BUDS and little BUDS in their matching creamsicle orange T-shirts showed up at the Hays USD 489 school board Monday as their teachers gave a presentation to the board on the program.
Heidi Harper-Wamser, Roosevelt kindergarten teacher, was looking for something to make learning to read and write easier for her students.
Wamser partnered with sophomore English teacher Lisa Renz and HHS special education teacher Kelly Ackerman.
The HHS teachers weren't sure if the high school students would buy into the matching T-shirts or the proposal to join the littles at recess, but they said yes.
The BUDS students participated in a reverse trick-or-trick at Ascension Living Via Christi Village. During a reverse trick-or-treat, the children give treats as well as receive.
In November, the littles went to the high school, where they wrote a turkey dinner story, ate lunch in the "big classroom," and went on a scavenger hunt.
While the BUDS were at the high school, HHS students approached the teachers and asked them what class the students were a part of and how they could sign up for the class.
In January, the kindergarten students created a melting snowman craft and wrote a story to go with their artwork.
This spring, the kindergarten students will write step-by-step instructions for making pizzas and then make personal pizzas to eat.
Wamser said the teachers give the instructions, but they let the bigs lead the lessons.
Multiple community partners have donated to the project.
"I know without a doubt our last day together will be a tough one," Wamser said. "Each side of this project has benefited in different ways. This activity will be hard to beat ever."
The bigs have played with not only the students in Wamser's kindergarten class but also all the kids in the other kindergarten classes at Roosevelt.
"The whole thing is wonderful, but recess brings out the best," she said.
Both the littles and the HHS BUDS at the meeting Monday said recess was their favorite part of the program.
The bigs swing with the littles, play soccer with them and climb on the playground equipment with them, Wamser said.
"They don't just stand around," she said. "They completely engage with our kids. They become and are allowed to be kids again."
One of the bigs said recently they wished they had recess at the high school.
"They are growing up but still have a desire to be a kid every once in a while," Wamser said.
Lisa Renz, HHS English teacher, said she has seen some of the bigs come out of their shells during their participation in the program. Some students who were reluctant to even participate in the program have become some of the best mentors for the littles.
Some students have also expressed interest in becoming teachers.
"I think any time you can inspire someone else, you have done your job right there," Ruth Ruder, board member, said. ... "And you, Lisa [Renz], as you said, maybe you can create an educator in USD 489 someday. So kudos to you."