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 — '&