A bench for a buddy

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Hop Brook Elementary School third-graders Ireland Starziski, left, and Agnaldo Germano perform a skit Oct. 10 promoting the new Buddy Bench program at the school in Naugatuck. –LUKE MARSHALL
Hop Brook Elementary School third-graders Ireland Starziski, left, and Agnaldo Germano perform a skit Oct. 10 promoting the new Buddy Bench program at the school in Naugatuck. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — Students at Hop Brook Elementary School have a new way of finding a buddy at recess.

The school unveiled its new Buddy Bench program Oct. 10.

The way the program works is if a student does not have anyone to play with during recess they go sit on one of the two benches. When other students notices a student sitting on the benches they go ask them to play.

A group of students put on a skit for the rest of the school last week, demonstrating the way the Buddy Bench should be used.

Principal Kathryn Taylor said the teachers noticed some students didn’t always have someone to play with, and they would try to help those students find a group to play with.
However, under the Buddy Bench program the students can be more proactive about inviting others to play with them.

“We had seen other schools were having buddy benches and we thought it would be a great opportunity,” Taylor said.

Taylor pointed out the benches are from the former Prospect Street School and were strategically placed at the school.

“It’s in an area in-between grass and the blacktop. So the people on the playground can see that somebody is looking for a friend to play with,” Taylor said.