“You guys are here for your master spelling and writing abilities,” said Lauren Strathman, a fifth grade teacher at Liberty Elementary. She was reminding her class why they were helping their kindergarten buddies in Mrs. Mason’s class at Douma.
The short walk between Douma and Liberty provides an opportunity for students in upper and lower grades to work together. Today, fifth graders spent an hour helping their buddies create Valentine cards to give to residents at Vista Woods. Liberty students are doing random acts of kindness next week during the national week of kindness. Kindergarten students in Mrs. Mason’s class do a random act of kindness each month. The projects seemed like a great opportunity for the two groups of students to work together.
Madeline Gailtan-Renovato and Bremilin DeLeon-Cruz have worked together before. “She knew I was going to pick her,” said Gailtan-Renovato, a kindergartener.
“I like spending time with my kindergarten buddy,” said DeLeon-Cruz.
Mason provided the groups with a variety of supplies to decorate red construction paper hearts. Stickers were very popular with both girls and boys. “We are going to put on a lot 
“This is their favorite thing,” said Strathman about her fifth grade class.
