These student leaders make their campus a community by helping in the library, art and PE.

Tadlock Elementary School’s oldest students are donating their recess time to help the youngest ones, sharing their talents and leadership in art, PE and the library.

On a cloudy December Monday, over a dozen fifth grade helpers fanned out across the campus in the period before their lunch. In the library, they shelved library books and rearranged furniture after the spelling bee; they led exercises and warm-ups in kindergarten PE; and in art, they helped kindergarteners use glue to create sculptures.

“It’s awesome to see the bonds the fifth graders build with the kindergarteners,” PE teacher Tracy Robertson said. “They’re building a sense of community, leadership and camaraderie at Tadlock.”

At schools across Frisco ISD, fifth graders can volunteer to help younger students in different ways. For Tadlock helpers, the choice is simple.

“I just like helping,” said fifth grader Jonavon, a library helper. “It feels special because I’ve been at Tadlock since kindergarten.”

These helpers carry their love of Tadlock home, too. Jonavon is so dedicated to the library that he devised a new organization system for certain book series. Now, there’s a sign at the end of a bookcase with his name, to note the section of Magic Tree House books he redesigned — and he has plans to expand to more series.

“This is a really special group of students,” librarian Lucy Towle said. "There's something truly magical about watching a group of kids choose to spend their recess in the library. It shows their love for books, their willingness to help and their sense of responsibility.”

Every fifth grader in the library was excited to be there, moving quickly to rearrange the furniture. When it was time to go, they were disappointed.

“I like organizing, helping and cleaning,” fifth grader Olivia said. “The library is the best place.”

In the gym, fifth grade helpers acted as junior coaches, leading kindergarteners in warm-ups and activities. Switching from arm circles to planks, push-ups and other exercises, fifth graders had younger students’ full attention.

Coach Robertson said the fifth graders are doing more than helping — they’re making the school a better, more welcoming place.

“The kindergarteners and fifth graders all know each other's names and wave to each other in the hallways,” she said. “Kinder feels safe and welcome on our campus because fifth grade is always there for them. It almost feels like all our fifth graders have kinder siblings to look out for, and they check in on each other even outside of PE class.”

In art, kindergartners were learning about glue and sculpture, with each table staffed by a fifth grade helper.

At some tables, it was a family project.

Fifth grader Blake and kindergartener Zellie were working together, excited to point out they were brother and sister. At other tables, students helped friends’ younger siblings or their neighbors glue their sculptures.

“Having fifth grade helpers is great when I introduce younger students to something like this or technology,” art teacher Derek White said. “The fifth graders are our troubleshooters.”

Fifth grader Leia was working at a table with her neighbor, who gave her a hug when it was time for the older kids to go.

“I like being in art and bringing them joy,” Leia said. “It’s fun looking at what they’re doing and remembering how it was when I was their age. I used to do this, and now I can help them do it, too.”