Millburn Elementary School Students Learn Inclusion, Kindness With New "Buddy Bench"

Glenwood Elementary School students who feel lonely at recess now have a means of being included in the fun and free play that are the hallmarks of the idyllic childhood experience. The “Buddy Bench” is a new focal area on the playground where children without playmates can sit and be identified by classmates as wanting to play.

Glenwood teachers Ann Rider and Debbi Dolce initiated the idea for the bench and applied for a grant from the Education Foundation Millburn-Short Hills last year. Since its installation, the Buddy Bench has yielded enormous success.

“The Education Foundation’s partnership with Glenwood on this project has had a significant impact in our school community,” Glenwood Principal Dr. David Jasin said. “The buddy bench provides a wonderful tool for our children to demonstrate how they care for each other. The buddy bench is a lasting symbol of both Glenwood’s and the Education Foundation’s commitment to character education.”

The Buddy Bench project originated with Glenwood teachers watching children over the years who had some difficulty in navigating social interaction at recess.

“All children experience this at some point, and recognizing this was important,” Glenwood second grade teacher Debbi Dolce said. “After discussing potential projects for encouraging positive social interactions and building character - under the frameworks of anti-bullying and character education, we happened upon the story of the Buddy Bench.”

“After several months of research and planning, we got approval for our program, wrote a grant for funding, purchased the bench from Future Recycling in Hoboken, and presented the project to the student body of Glenwood School,” Dolce added. “It was met with wonderful excitement and has been used by the students ever since.”

As character education is a passion project for many in the organization the Buddy Bench grant was met with resounding approval.

“The best thing about the Buddy Bench is that it keeps on creating stories of friends in need finding each other,” Third grade teacher Ann Rider said. “I would say that the Buddy Bench is the perfect way for kids at Glenwood to practice kindness, courage, trust and understanding. We are fortunate that the Education Foundation recognized the need for the Buddy Bench and helped make it happen.”

About the Education Foundation of Millburn-Short Hills

The Education Foundation of Millburn-Short Hills is dedicated to enhancing the public school curriculum by providing equipment, technology, programs and staff development that cannot be funded within budget caps.

Grant applications to the Education Foundation for the 2015-16 school year are currently being accepted online. Both school staff and parents are welcome to apply. Residents looking to participate in Education Foundation activities are encouraged to attend monthly meetings and learn more about the organization here.

Photos courtesy of Micole Richter