Photos provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Recess, a break in the school day where children take advantage of nice weather and engage with their classmates and friends outside of the classroom. For many of us, this break was not always pleasant, especially when making friends put us a little outside of our comfort zone. One student, third grader Faith Waters, implemented an idea that would make it easier for her classmates to meet new people.
The Buddy Bench, though not a unique idea to some, certainly unique to the playground at Caroline Street Elementary. When Waters was in the second grade, she thought to herself that this would be a great addition to her school’s playground. The following year she mustered up the gumption to put this plan into action.
“Well, it’s not really my idea but I just heard of it and wanted to do it because a lot of people didn’t have anybody to play with at recess,” said Waters. “I wanted everybody to have somebody to play with at recess.”
Inclusivity on the playground is something Waters is passionate about. When she presented her new goal to her parents, they did not hesitate to jump on board.
“We thought it was great! She does always worry about other people and making sure people have friends or somebody to talk to,” said Kara Waters, Faith’s mother.
In order to jumpstart her plan Waters consulted her teachers, who advised her to write a letter of her request to her principal. Her principal thought it was a great idea. The school had a few requirements for the sign that would mark the bench; that it must be safe, secure, and lacking sharp edges and corners.
The Waters family donated the funds to the school to provide the bench’s plaque. With the help of Smith Signs and original artwork by Waters herself, the plaque was created.
“The hope was two things: to be able to replicate it for this bench but also if the idea spread - we didn’t want something like a wooden plaque that would take hours to do; we want it to be simple and unique, but also incorporate her own design,” said Gene Waters, Faith’s father.
The bench has been on display for six weeks, and Faith herself has already made new friends by going up to kids at the bench. Her hopes are that more students throughout her school use it, enjoy it and make new friends.
