(Courtesy/Ms. Bening)

An abundance of pipe cleaners, pom-poms, markers, and glue sticks covered the Dining Hall tables on Tuesday, October 27, as giggles and excited shouts from kindergarteners filled the air. The occasion marked the seniors’ third activity with their kindergarten buddies: pumpkin decorating.

At 9:15 a.m., seniors filed into the Dining Hall, where bags of craft supplies, pumpkins, and their eager buddies awaited them at the round tables. My buddy, Vivian J., and I began by giving our pumpkin googly eyes, a pom-pom nose, and a red yarn smile. We decorated the back with beads and feathers before using sticker letters to write our names and our pumpkin’s name, Ann. Kyndal S., who took a similarly creative approach to decorating her pumpkin, reflected on the significance of these activities, saying, “I really appreciate these moments because I know our time together is limited, and I see traits of myself in my buddy.”

While some pairs opted for classic Halloween designs, including spooky faces and silly monsters, others let their imaginations run wild with original creations. My buddy and I gave Ann a makeover, adding makeup to her face and giving her a wild, feathered hairstyle.

For seniors who have attended Academy since kindergarten, these activities also offer a nostalgic opportunity to reflect on their own childhoods. Tyler F. recalled what it was like to be in his buddy’s position a decade ago, saying, “I remember when I was on the other end of the spectrum 10 years ago in my buddy Noa’s shoes and how much I appreciated having an older mentor.”

Seniors will reunite with their buddies once more before Thanksgiving break in November to decorate turkey apples and continue strengthening the bonds they have built.