Feeling friendly in Polk County
In need of a friend? A new piece of outdoor furniture at Northside Elementary School is helping students who need just that connect with others who just want to play and have fun.
The Friendship Bench is a new innovation on the Northside Elementary School playground, the idea provided by students themselves who have in the past had problems making friends at the school.
Northside Elementary School counselor Julie Redden said that fifth graders earlier in the year wanted to do something to help students who have experienced a hard time transitioning to a new school and making friends.
She got the students to brainstorm ideas, and the bench was the result of their work. The idea, Redden said, is that these benches stand out from other places to sit as spaces for those who are seeking friendship during recess can sit.
“And the idea is that if anyone sees someone sitting on the bench, they should immediately go and invite the person to play and have fun with them,” Redden said.
Months later, the bench made with the help of donations from Tim Ramirez at Cedartown’s Home Depot — he’s now at a location in Powder Springs — and construction students in Todd Tillery’s class at Cedartown High School have produced the bench.
But Ramirez came up with the most brilliant part of the plan: if a pair of students were on one bench, what was the lonely soul to do if they had no where to sit and signal they wanted to be friends?
“So he decided that we needed materials for two benches, not just one,” she said.
Ramirez also provided paint for the project, Redden said.
“Home Depot is super excited to work with the elementary school syst ems, t o develop t he youth and be a part of the community and give back,” Ramirez said when asked about the project.
It’s one of many over the years prior to his being transferred to a different store he’s helped out with in Cedartown, and said it’s all part of showing off the company value of giving back to the community in many ways, something that Home Depot also inspires their employees to do as well.
But until the benches themselves were completed by Tillery’s class and delivered, it’s been a matter of being patient and waiting for Redden’s group.
“The kids have been asking daily if the benches are ready,” she said. “They are excited. And if we see a lot of good be- havior and helping those who need a friend, we’re going to put names in a weekly drawing for small prizes.”
The benches were delivered and installed on Monday, February 27, and thus far have been popular.
Redden said she went around to all 21 homerooms during the school day last week to explain the purpose of the benches, and to explain the rules.
Anyone who sits on the bench is sending the signal they need a friend, and thus can’t turn down anyone who comes to pro- vide an invitation to play.
“It would hurt their feelings just as much as it hurts to be lonely and not have a friend,” Redden said. “So we’ve made it clear that the bench is specifically for those who need a friend. If you need someplace to sit, you have to find another place unless you want to play.”
Thus far, Redden said she’s been getting early reports the benches are serving their purpose.
“I ’ ve had t eachers texting me ‘We’ve had a bench episode’,” she said. “They’re telling me that they’ve been busy.”