Each year the Prep students at Eastbourne are involved in a Buddies program.  The children are "matched" with one or two Senior Sub School students who act as a friend and mentor to the Prep student. By the end of Term 1, it would be typical for "Buddy Grades" to meet once or twice a fortnight to be involved in activities devised by the classroom teachers.  Often, the associations between the older and younger students become long standing friendships, particularly when the older buddy is a grade 5 student.  There are many benefits to both the older and the younger students, with evidence of growth in the areas of social skills and general responsibility.