NES WILL SOON WELCOME A "BUDDY BENCH"!
During Start With Hello Week, we are excited to announce that NES will install a "Buddy Bench" on the playground this Spring!
The simple concept behind a Buddy Bench has been adopted by educators around the world. Basically, when a student feels lonely, they know they can go over and sit on the Buddy Bench. Friends and classmates will know that when someone sits on the Buddy Bench, they are looking for a friend to play with during recess.
The NES Administration, Staff and NES PTA have partnered to ensure the success of the Buddy Bench. NES Guidance Counselor, Christi Bello, has taken the lead in developing a plan to teach students about the Buddy Bench when it first arrives, and then engage them to participate in its use thereafter. She will integrate this learning as part of Guidance and Start With Hello activities moving forward.
NES Start With Hello efforts are focused on the growing epidemic of social isolation in our schools and communities, and empowering kids to create a culture of inclusion and connectedness within our school. We are excited to add this new Buddy Bench as part of our overall efforts!