Lundahl Eighth Graders Donate “Buddy Bench” to North Elementary Students

At an all-school PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) assembly on September 28, five Lundahl eighth graders presented a gift to North Elementary students that is likely to keep on giving.

The gift was a handpainted bench to be used outside on North’s playground during recess. But the bench isn’t just any bench. Rather, it is a “Buddy Bench” -- a special place for students to sit if they are feeling lonely, not sure where to go, or are in need of a friend.

The Buddy Bench was a community service project the Lundahl students took on in order to participate in the upcoming Lundahl Middle School Fitness Challenge, which takes place on October 7. The group, whose Fitness Challenge team name is “Twinning is Winning - with Tom,” is comprised of two sets of twins: Ava and Sawyer Sevcik and Natalie and Casey Haskin, as well as Tommy Walsh, son of North Elementary social worker Tracy Walsh.

Tracy Walsh, who came up with the idea for the project, said that the idea behind it is that, when students sit on the bench, it serves as a signal to others that they’d like help. Other students, who have been selected by teachers to serve as “watchers,” monitor the bench during recess to look for opportunities to help out classmates in need. There are also other “buddy bench” rules to follow, like that a student sitting on the bench must accept the first invitation offered.

The students said they considered many project ideas but got most excited about this one, as it seemed to be a gift that would keep on giving. When asked what impact they hoped the bench would have on North students, Tommy Walsh replied, “It means that there will be more friendships for kids.”

The project would not have been complete without the help and support of others, who included the students’ parents, a generous individual who devoted his time and craftsmanship to the project, and a donation by a local business. Once the students fleshed out their idea, they traveled to area hardware stores and pitched their project, asking for the donation of a bench. Lowe’s (Lake in the Hills) graciously came through and donated one. In need of some customization, Bob Kalivoda (former District 47 parent) helped to cut wood and make other modifications. Once complete, the five students got together and painted the bench.

When asked what they gained from the experience, Ava Sevcik said, “I liked driving around together when we visited the hardware stores...it showed me the power of teamwork.”

“I loved seeing the reaction of the students when we unveiled the bench,” said Natalie Haskin. “They were so excited!”

Although they had outside help and support, Walsh was quick to point out that the middle school students were the “leading force” behind the project. As District 47 students, she said they understood how a Buddy Bench would put into action the expectations for behavior that have been emphasized to students through the district’s recently adopted PBIS program.

“Our assembly highlighted our North School expectations--Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible,” said Walsh. “The Buddy Bench is a perfect way to help North students understand how to do that on the playground.”

North Assistant Principal Christina Moran said, “These Lundahl Middle School students set a powerful example for our North students during our PBIS assembly. We are in awe of the time, creativity and leadership that they have shown in donating the Buddy Bench to North. It is a gift that will continue to impact students in a positive way, and for that we are so grateful!”