Thank you to the Columbiana PTO and families who made donations at our Annual Family Spring Fling this past school year. Monies from PTO and the event donations were used to purchase a Joshua Dixon Buddy Bench.
The concept of the Buddy Bench is quite simple...a student who feels lonely at recess or just needs a friend, sits on the bench. Others glance over and see the classmate and ask him/her to play with them. This is a great way for new students to become part of the class and for those feeling left out to join in the fun!
"Often times, we speak to kids about including others and being kind. This bench helps them recognize a lonely classmate, ask them to join in and form a friendship. The hope is for the bench to communicate empathy and compassion, while eliminating loneliness and exclusion."
The Buddy Bench will be a part of our Olweus Anti-Bullying Program kick-off beginning Oct. 1, 2018. Students and Staff will be asked to wear their ALWAYS BE KIND shirts each Monday. This program will be school-wide incorporating an anti-bullying message in each classroom.