On Wednesday Oct. 2nd, Falcons of all ages gathered for the first Falcon Friend event of the year. Falcon Friend gatherings are hour-long, community-building activities, where older students are paired up with younger “Falcon friends” from the lower divisions. 

Over the years, these pairings develop lasting relationships with their younger Falcon buddies, creating meaningful bonds that grow throughout their time at Saint Stephen’s.  (See this linked video for a broader picture of what the program is all about). 

Wednesday’s event was postponed last week due to Hurricane Helene, and while the event offered an opportunity for the community to cultivate the kindness and connection so many Falcons need right now.

Mrs. Batson, Intermediate School teacher and head of the Falcon Friends Committee, has exciting plans for the program this year.

“The Falcon friends events [this year] are going to be very student-focused,” Batson said. “We must be doing events that are meaningful to the students and that will impact them and will become memories for the years to come.” 

Mrs. Batson added that she hopes to return to the roots of the Falcon Friend program, making the events wholly student-centered.

Falcon Friends began in 1988, and the activities usually have a service element—whether that be through coloring projects, writing letters to veterans, or making cards for the elderly in nursing homes.  

But sometimes, the event is to have fun and enjoy one another. 

Yesterday, the paired groups gathered to discuss possible future Falcon friend activities, so that students could discuss their hopes for the program this year. 

Falcon friend events are important for both older and younger students, instilling a strong sense of Falcon spirit while fostering connections both on and off campus in our community.

Sydney Moore, a senior, spent her morning with preschooler Sophie Cotton, and they got to get to know each other while making a pizza out of Play-Doh. 

“I enjoyed spending time with the younger students,” Moore shared, “It was a lot of fun and made me feel like a little kid again.” 

With the pressure of being a student-athlete while managing external responsibilities, the time spent with the younger students offered Moore a break. Moore found the event to be relaxing and adored the little kids’ excitement.

Fifth grader Lillianna Flower was excited for the event and for her last year as a younger Falcon friend. 

“My favorite part of Falcon Friend events is being able to hang out with my Falcon friend,” Flower shared.