Jordan School District high school students create, install “buddy benches” at elementary schools

SOUTH JORDAN — Elementary school students in the Jordan School District have a new way to make friends.

Students from surrounding high schools surprised grade schoolers at Monte Vista Elementary School on Wednesday with buddy benches.

The white pieces of furniture were handmade by students at the Jordan School District’s Academy of Technology and Career, a program for seniors and juniors interested in specific careers.

What are buddy benches?

Buddy benches provide a place for students to sit if they’re feeling lonely or need someone to play with. It’s a natural prompt for other students to approach and befriend them.

“If someone’s feeling lonely or just wants to play with somebody, they can go sit on the bench and then we know that’s a signal to invite them to play,” said Ellie Miller, a Jordan School District fifth grader.

The welding group collaborated with students in construction and education for this project.

Introducing the buddy bench

Ruby Sullivan is in the academy’s Teacher Education program. She helped introduce the benches to the grade school students at an assembly Wednesday.

“We’ve spent a lot of time in elementary schools, and we’ve noticed that a lot of students don’t have friends or they don’t know how to talk to people,” Sullivan said. “We wanted this assembly as a way to introduce the buddy bench and a way to tell people how to start a conversation.”

The Jordan Academy students said they hope they receive another grant next year to do this again and create even more benches.

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