Cross Age Interactions
A Community That Grows Together
At Vail Mountain School, learning is relational. We believe students grow best not only from great teaching, but from each other. That’s why our K–12 campus was designed to break down barriers between divisions, encouraging daily, natural interactions between students of all ages.
Whether it’s a senior guiding a kindergartner down the ski hill or a ninth grader joining Lower Schoolers for lunch, these everyday moments build empathy, confidence, and connection. As Head of School Steve Bileca says, we “sweat the small stuff,” because small moments often leave the biggest impact.
Programs That Make It Real
Cross-age connection is both organic and intentional at VMS. Our thoughtfully designed building fosters natural interaction, while our curriculum and programs deepen it.
The House Program: Every student, teacher, and administrator belongs to a House—small, mixed-age groups rooted in the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy pairing. Houses meet twice monthly for activities that spark mentorship, joy, and leadership across all grades.
Senior/Kindergarten Buddies: One of our most cherished traditions, this weekly pairing builds trust, friendship, and culminates in a meaningful graduation ceremony where kindergartners present their seniors with a yellow rose of friendship.
Reading & Mentorship Buddies: Structured pairings across Lower and Middle School, like 4th grade with Kindergarten, 2nd with 5th, and 1st with 8th, create consistent opportunities for mentorship, connection, and mutual growth.
At VMS, a third grader might know a sophomore by name. A senior may be inspired by a kindergartner’s curiosity. These cross-age experiences aren’t extras; they’re essential.
Because here, we don’t just build scholars. We build community.
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