On Jan. 22, the Raider Pals club went on its first field trip of the school year to the Lower School MCK Campus.

The Raider Pals club pairs high school students with middle schoolers to help improve their reading, grammar, and vocabulary skills. At the start of the year, a high schooler would pair up with a middle school student and communicate by sending letters back and forth, fostering a supportive relationship that encourages academic and personal growth.

Although the program has primarily relied on written correspondence, the field trip provided students with a rare opportunity to meet face-to-face. Club member and sophomore, Angelina Gouchee, reflected on the significance of this personal interaction.

“I really liked getting to spend one-on-one time with the 5th graders and hearing about their experiences. But I also really enjoyed being able to communicate in person and not solely through letters. I feel like it allows us to build a better connection,” Gouchee said.

Counselor at the MCK campus, Madeleine Hegarty, emphasized the program in creating meaningful relationships.

“The Raider Pals club provides a bridge from middle school to high school and allows our middle schoolers to feel connected to older kids who can mentor them, and someone they can look up to. It provides an opportunity for middle schoolers to have a lens into what the future holds for them here at Gulliver,” Hegarty said.

The club’s mentorship program has already made a meaningful impact, and with the first field trip now complete, senior vice president of the club, Gaëlle Timmer, shared some of their goals for the rest of the year.

“Our goal for this school year is to ensure that every Raider Pal and their buddy develop a lasting, meaningful friendship,” Timmer said.

Looking ahead, Raider Pals members will continue their work, providing support and building friendships throughout the remainder of the school year.