In a school of hundreds, individual students may at times feel a little lost or lonely. There\u2019s a bench for that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an effort that\u2019s been thriving at all three Lynden elementary schools for years\u2014some longer than a decade\u2014the Buddy Bench Program extends support to students who may feel a little lost. It provides them a place to be seen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe purpose of the Buddy Bench was to help give a physical place for kids to meet new friends, to sit when they needed someone to play with,\u201d says Tausha Caldarella, Fisher counselor. \u201cIt helped to create a sense of belonging and community amongst students.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Buddy Bench, located outside where students participate in recess, gives students who are quiet, shy or lonely the chance to connect with a potential friend, says Tanya Robinson, Bernice Vossbeck counselor. \u201cThe idea is that when a student feels lonely or left out, they sit on the bench, signaling peers that they would like to engage with someone.\u201d Other students are encouraged to keep a watchful eye on the bench and when they see a student there, invite them to join their group or game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe kids really took it to heart,\u201d Robinson says. \u201cThey very intentionally watch for people to go sit on the bench, talk to them, and invite them to play. The student who initially sat down would be whisked off to join a game.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The physical iterations of the benches have taken differing forms over the years at the various schools. Some benches have needed replacing and others have turned into something completely different. The evolution at Fisher has turned what was once a traditional bench into round picnic tables with benches, a solution that fits the needs of both the students and the community after hours and still maintains the purpose of the Buddy Bench Program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKids who normally would be sitting by themselves or just talking with one student has become a group of students finding commonality, finding friendship, belonging and community,\u201d Caldarella says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giving students a place to go during recess has opened fresh connections throughout the school. \u201cWe wanted students to have the ability to \u2018ask\u2019 others if they can play in a safe way,\u201d says Elizabeth Grant, Isom counselor. \u201cStudents know that if someone is sitting on the Buddy Bench, they want to be included at recess. It is used often, and students know to look for students sitting on it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The supervisors at Isom report, Grant says, that younger students often use the bench more. It also allows the supervisors to support students who my need help building friendships at recess. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Robinson says the evolution of the Buddy Bench concept has been organic over the years. Now she sees, at times, when one student sits only to have another soon join and the two strike up a conversation. Sometimes fresh connections are made between two students who wouldn\u2019t have otherwise united. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bernice Vossbeck also has a Peace Patrol, the school\u2019s version of conflict managers, where students are trained to manage conflicts and remain proactive in seeking out students who may seem lonely, such as a student sitting on the Buddy Bench. \u201cThe Buddy Bench is the first place Peace Patrol has been told to look,\u201d Robinson says. \u201cIf they see a student sitting on the bench they go over and invite the student to join the game they are organizing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Buddy Bench is a concept that now permeates the entire school. \u201cIt is exciting to see how it has been so effective for kids,\u201d Caldarella says, \u201cbut how also this concept is growing amongst the community who come to our school during the weekends or evenings to congregate at the tables and building community and belonging.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great tool to help kids, but one of many we implement to support students\u2019 social-emotional development,\u201d Robinson says. \u201cPersonally, I believe that although the kids may not need the bench a lot, knowing it\u2019s there as a backup is comforting.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"