Every Graland student participates in the Buddy Program, forming a cross-grade partnership that remains consistent throughout the year. Pairings are designed so that older students take on a leadership role while younger students have a familiar role model to look to. Current pairings include Pre-K with Grade 8, Kindergarten with Grade 4, Grade 1 with Grade 5, Grade 2 with Grade 6, and Grade 3 with Grade 7.

As students progress through the grades, their role naturally evolves. Younger students often look forward to the day when it will be their turn to be the older buddy. That transition begins in Grade 4, when students step into their first year as the older buddy and take on new responsibilities within the Lower School.

Buddy time takes shape through both shared traditions and everyday interactions. Schoolwide events such as Winter Wishes, the Halloween Parade, and Rodeo Field Day bring buddies together for all-school experiences, while quieter moments—reading together, creating chalk art, playing games, making crafts, or inventing handshakes and dances—strengthen connections throughout the year.

Belonging plays an important role in how students experience school, and the Buddy Program supports that sense of connection across campus. For younger students, an older buddy offers a familiar face and a sense of comfort. For older students, the role provides meaningful opportunities to practice responsibility, inclusion, and mentorship. Together, these relationships help shape a school environment where students feel connected to one another and to the larger Graland community.