Albuquerque Public Schools
Building Bridges Across Campus
A cross-school buddy program is connecting Helen Cordero and Edward Gonzales elementaries.
Though Helen Cordero Elementary (PreK–2nd) and Edward Gonzales Elementary (3rd–5th) operate as separate schools, a joint initiative is bringing their student bodies together to create one unified school community.
Launched last year through the Joint Community School Council, the Buddy Classroom Program pairs a Helen Cordero class with an Edward Gonzales class. The goal of the partnership goes beyond fun activities—it actively fosters safety, care, a shared culture of literacy and a strong sense of belonging. Crucially, the program helps smooth the transition for young learners as they prepare to move from 2nd grade at Helen Cordero to 3rd grade at Edward Gonzales.
The new school year is already off to an engaging start for Ms. Padilla’s 5th-grade class at Edward Gonzales and Ms. Turpin’s kindergarten class at Helen Cordero. The older buddies recently visited their younger counterparts to share stories and mentor them in reading skills. After finishing their books together, the pairs played an interactive dice game designed to check comprehension while keeping learning playful and fun.
By connecting primary and intermediate students early and often, the Joint Community School Council is ensuring that every child feels supported, known and ready for each stage of their educational journey.