Saco Middle School (SMS) recently hosted a joyful and purposeful visit from kindergarten students at Young School, bringing together learners across grade levels for a shared celebration of reading and creativity.
The event was the result of a collaboration between sixth-grade students from the Bradbury Team and three kindergarten classes. The kindergartners visited the SMS library, where they were paired one-on-one with sixth-grade reading buddies. Together, the students read picture books and created colorful bookmarks to take home—a simple but powerful activity that fostered meaningful connections and valuable literacy practice.
Assistant Superintendent Meg Parkhurst praised the initiative, saying, “Collaborations like this demonstrate the strength of our school community. It’s inspiring to see students of different ages learning from and supporting one another.”
While the visit was brief to accommodate young attention spans, it offered lasting benefits. The sixth-graders had spent the previous two weeks preparing for the visit, carefully selecting picture books and rehearsing how to read them aloud with expression, clarity, and engagement. The experience strengthened their reading fluency and helped them develop essential presentation skills such as pacing, vocal tone, focus, and audience interaction.
“This was more than just a reading activity; it was a real opportunity for our older students to grow as readers and mentors,” said English Language Arts Teacher Courtney Mains. “They took their role seriously and showed great care in preparing for their kindergarten partners.”
SMS sixth-grader Nadalee Light said, “I had so much fun reading to the kindergartners and making bookmarks with them. They remind me of myself when I was little. I was shy at first, but if I felt comfortable, I would start talking. I picked a book that’s funny and has animal characters because I think the kindergartners would love it. I’ve been practicing using silly voices. It was so fun to read it out loud and see them smile.”
Saco Middle School Librarian Kathleen Wirth echoed the importance of the moment: “This type of interaction is so valuable. The kindergartners get a glimpse of what middle school looks like and experience a welcoming, joyful environment centered on books. At the same time, our sixth-graders grow in confidence and see themselves as role models. We love working with our teachers, Mrs. Dubois, Mrs. Kenney, and Mrs. Koss, and their kindergarteners' visit marked a successful example of cross-grade engagement, reinforcing Saco School Department’s commitment to cultivating positive relationships and a love of learning at every level.
