Newsletters 2014-15 Focus newsletter, [1] fall | Page 10

CREATING SAFE AND RESPECTFUL SCHOOLS PAGE 10 Cure to lonely recess playtime is just a ‘Buddy Bench’ away It’s one thing for teachers and administrators to tell children to be more inclusive when it comes to play time during recess. But imagine what it would be like if kids had a simpler way to tell their peers they wanted a playmate during recess? That’s the idea behind Buddy Benches, which are coming to the playgrounds of every Anoka-Hennepin elementary school this summer. The idea behind the Buddy Benches is simple – students who are looking for a playmate or an activity to participate in sit on the bench. In mere moments, their peers are including them or asking them to play. The idea first came to the district from Rori Koch, a parent whose personal experience inspired her to seek solutions to remedy lonely recess playtimes that her child was experiencing while at Oxbow Creek Elementary School in Champlin. “I was saddened to hear my then kindergartner come home each day stating that he played by himself at recess,” she said. “Anyone who knows him knows that he such a sweet, loving, caring and adorable little boy. I wanted to help him as any mother would want to help their child.” Compelled to take action, she hit the web and discovered a Today show story about Christian Bucks, a Pennsylvania second grader who came up with the idea of Buddy Benches. “I thought if a Buddy Bench could be installed (at my children’s school) that it could offer our children and many others camaraderie, companionship, a feeling of belonging and importance,” Koch said. “And I hoped it could end lots of sadness, broken hearts, tears, many sad talks between children and parents and parents feeling hopeless.” Excited about the idea, Koch sent an email to the Anoka-Hennepin School Board, which found its way to the desk of Mary Wolverton, associate superintendent for elementary schools. “When I first read her email — I knew it was a great idea for all our elementary schools, not just one,” Wolverton said. “It was a fantastic suggestion.” Soon, Wolverton had approached a number of princi- pals about the idea, and all of them expressed interest in having a Buddy Bench at their school, she said. And with a larger vision — installing one at each school instead of just at Oxbow Creek — funding would have a natural partner: the Anoka Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF). When Tess DeGeest, the foundation’s director, first heard about the Buddy Benches, she knew they would fit with AHEF’s efforts in advancing early childhood education as well as helping to foster a culture of inclusive, welcoming schools for all students. Buddy Benches, like the one at Hoover Elementary School, will allow Anoka-Hennepin's elementary school students to more easily find recess-time playmates. The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation paid for installation of the benches at all 24 elementary schools in the district. “The mission of the foundation is to work with the district and community to support students,” DeGeest said. “In this case, a parent — a member of the community — '&