Buddy Bench donated to Hughes Springs Elementary

By: Toni Walker

Editor

news@steelcountrybee.com

“No child plays alone” is the reason for a new fixture to the Hughes Springs Elementary Playgrounds. The school has one “Buddy Bench” in house and ready to be installed, and another on the way.

Mrs. Kelly, a teacher at HS Elementary, approached Principal Scott Hanes in the fall after reading an article about a child who had implemented what he called “Buddy Benches” in his school playground. The idea came from the student seeing his classmates being alone on the playground. The purpose of the bench was to give lonely students a place to go where it was recognized by their peers that they needed a friend.

“It was a heartwarming story that I read, that gave me the idea to have them here in Hughes Springs,” said Mrs. Kelly. So, she approached Hanes, who was on board with the idea. Assistant principal Danny Carey who heads up the student council, got his council on board, and they began making plans to collect donations for two benches.

Carey said, “We are training the students and staff to recognize the benches as a place for students who are lonely or afraid can go. Then other students can go and be with them.” Mrs. Kelly added that “No student will be left on the Buddy Bench. Someone will go to them. Everyone needs a buddy.”

Although the plan had been to have the benches in place in October, through unforeseen circumstances, that date got pushed back. “Mrs. Hanes got in contact with this company from Mount Pleasant that makes benches, and he agreed to make two for us,” said Carey. Although Carey has donations for the bench that has been delivered, Jason Aston, of Aston Metal Art, would not hear of it. “I am donating both benches to the school. It is a great way to make sure the kids are being friendly and nice,” said Aston.

The money that has been donated will not go to waste. According to Carey, the money will “probably be used next year for our anti-bullying campaign.”