Sayville 4th Graders Mentor Kindergarteners In Life-Skills Program

SAYVILLE, NY — Sunrise Drive Elementary School in Sayville spent the month of January helping its youngest students build confidence and independence through a collaborative, hands-on program that paired fourth graders with kindergarteners to practice everyday life skills.

The initiative centered on the school’s social-emotional learning theme of independence and focused on practical self-care skills such as tying shoes, zipping coats, and fastening buttons. Fourth graders took the lead by designing and building custom learning tools as part of their STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math — curriculum.

Those student-created tools were placed in baskets in kindergarten classrooms and set up as “skill stations,” allowing younger students to practice at their own pace while receiving guidance from their older mentors.

As kindergarteners mastered each task, they earned stickers to celebrate their progress, reinforcing both confidence and self-sufficiency. The program ran throughout January and emphasized collaboration, leadership and peer support across grade levels.

“This initiative gives our youngest learners a fun, hands-on way to practice independence while allowing our fourth graders to step into leadership roles,” Principal James Foy said. “It’s amazing to see students across grade levels working together to learn, teach, and celebrate their accomplishments.”