Collin County Future Mobility Oct 2023

Buddy bench encourages kindness, awareness

by | Jan 14, 2016 | Education

By Nancy Whitney

Staff Writer

[email protected]

Boggess Elementary students aren’t taking a side seat anymore when it comes to friends being left out at recess. The school recently implemented the buddy bench, a program that helps empower kids to play together and take an active role in making friends.

The buddy bench came to fruition in 2013 at the hands of Christian, an elementary student from Pennsylvania. Christian had seen a similar idea implemented at a school in Germany and thought it could serve a strong purpose at his school.

After discussions with his principal they purchased a bench and educated students on how it should be used. Local media outlets and some national affiliates eventually took notice and the buddy bench idea spread across the nation.

Now the buddy bench has made its way to Boggess Elementary at the request of several students.

School Counselor Michele Austin said the school’s buddy bench will be available in the next week.

“We plan to meet with students and teachers first to talk about how it should be used,” she said. “We want this to empower our students to use their words and talk to someone first, before taking a seat at the bench.”

For full story see the Murphy Monitor at http://www.etypeservices.com/Murphy%20MonitorID247/default.aspx.

State Fair of Texas 2023 SFOT

0 Comments

Public Notice - Subscribe

Related News

Plans for WISD bond campaign presented

Plans for WISD bond campaign presented

The second regular trustee meeting of the school year on Sept. 18 had several recognitions, information on a new initiative, and a Bond 2023 update. Recognitions included the Wylie High School Theatre team for receiving an award of distinction by the Texas Education...

read more
WISD bond election specifics

WISD bond election specifics

At the first Wylie ISD Board of Trustees meeting of the school year on Aug. 21, the board unanimously voted to place a $298 million bond proposal on the Nov. ballot. The election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 7 and early voting is from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3. “The...

read more
New law mandates school security

New law mandates school security

Many school districts were scrambling to comply with a new state law requiring at least one security officer with a gun at every campus during regular school hours. The measure was a direct response to the worst school massacre in Texas history, the May 2022 fatal...

read more
School kicks into gear

School kicks into gear

After a summer full of administration changes and preparation, staff at Plano and Wylie ISD are ready to welcome students. The first day of the new school year for PISD students is Wednesday, Aug. 9 and Thursday, Aug. 10 for  WISD students. Students, parents and...

read more
Future facilities discussed by WISD trustees

Future facilities discussed by WISD trustees

Wylie ISD trustees are expected to consider a bond proposal at their regular August 21 meeting and will likely call an election for Nov. 7. Trustees were presented a Comprehensive Facilities Plan at a July 17 workshop that was developed over the past several months by...

read more
New year, new teachers

New year, new teachers

WISD recruits, welcomes 225 new teachers It’s crunch time for area school districts as they race against the clock to prep for the 2023-24 school year welcoming new students and new teachers. In Wylie ISD, new teachers — 225 in all — were celebrated at the annual “New...

read more
WISD budget adopted

WISD budget adopted

Wylie ISD trustees approved a budget for the upcoming fiscal year despite some uncertainty surrounding property relief and statutory requirements to raise teacher compensation in special legislative sessions. The overall budget was presented by Scott Roderick,...

read more
PESH Panthers become 2023 graduates

PESH Panthers become 2023 graduates

Plano East Senior High (PESH) Valedictorian Shriya Bhat recalled how COVID had cut short freshman year for the Class of 2023. “Our infinite spring break turned into a year of online school in our pajamas,” she told the 1,370 graduates. “At least we got TikTok from...

read more
Eight Murphy students win scholarships

Eight Murphy students win scholarships

The Murphy Chamber of Commerce Foundation has awarded $1,700 scholarships to eight high school seniors. The scholarships were available to career and technical education (CTE) students, home-school and private school students and college-bound Plano ISD and Wylie ISD...

read more
Public Notice - Subscribe