Students needing a friend on the playground at Claiborne Elementary now have a Buddy Bench, thanks to the vision of Ashley Dowling, Membership Manager for the WMWO Chamber of Commerce.
A Buddy Bench can be found at schools across America, and the idea behind it is if a student is feeling sad or left out, they can go sit on the bench and someone will come and talk with them.
Dowling and the Chamber teamed up with Entergy and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office to ensure all 22 elementary schools in the Ouachita Parish School System have a Buddy Bench installed on their school playgrounds this school year.
On Tuesday, Claiborne received the first Buddy Bench with the other benches being installed by the Sheriff’s office in the upcoming months. Every elementary school teacher also will be provided with Buddy Bench learning materials for their classroom.
"We want all of our students to look forward to coming to school each day.” said Todd Guice, Ouachita Parish School Board Superintendent. “Each day holds a special opportunity that can shape a student's day, school year or even life. A Buddy Bench is a perfect example of a place where students can express themselves and find a lifelong friend in the process. We emphasize to our faculty and staff the importance of being intentional with every child. This project will help us acknowledge and address students' needs. We can all benefit from a Buddy Bench by becoming a positive impact in a child's life and the lives of those who use a Buddy Bench to reach out and get to know their peers better."
The Buddy Bench rules are simple. If you choose to sit on the bench, you must say yes to the first friend who invites you to play or walk and talk. If you see a friend sitting on the bench, you invite them to play, or walk and talk. Studies show that many children experience loneliness at school, resulting in a tendency to withdraw and avoid social interactions. Buddy Benches seek to eliminate that loneliness and encourage student success.
The Buddy Bench projecy was made possible by a grant from Entergy with a plaque on each bench reading “Friendships Powered by Entergy”.
“Entergy is excited for the opportunity to continue powering lives through powered friendships,” said Amanda Edge, Entergy Customer Service manager.
The Chamber encourages the entire community to spread the word about the Buddy Bench project. Its staff understands the outcome of student success is intertwined with building strong social connections and wants to ensure every student has an opportunity.
“I am thrilled that this idea is coming to life.” Dowling said. “I would have loved to have a Buddy Bench when I was in school. Children may have a difficult home life, and despite their best efforts, they have trouble fitting in. The Buddy Bench will help bridge that gap.”
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