Three teachers from Chisholm Ridge Elementary School implemented a new program called the "Buddy Bench," a bench in the school playground where children can go when they're lonely or looking to talk or join in a game. The Buddy Bench concept originally began overseas and has now made its way to schools across the U.S.

 

"We started the buddy bench to evoke a sense of community within our school," said Katie Grice, third-grade CRES teacher. "It gives the students an opportunity to reach out to and care for one another. We wanted to teach them that sometimes the simplest gesture can make a big difference in a person's day and life." 

 

Grice and her fellow third-grade teachers, Erin Abernathy and Miranda Maples, originally created the bench for their students, but after noticing the impact it had on them they opened it up to the entire school. 

 

"The Buddy Bench has helped promote relationship building at recess," said Susan Cook, Chisholm Ridge Elementary School principal. "Students are more aware of the needs of others around them and now have a recognized method for making friends. Even shy students can sit on a bench; they don't have to ask someone to play with them - people ask them! This has translated into the classroom and other areas of school. Parents love knowing that their students can make new friends in an easy and risk-free environment. We love the Buddy Bench!"  

 

View the video below to see what Abernathy, Grice, Maples, and their students had to say about the success of CRES' Buddy Bench.