Two Clearmont Students Help Foster Belonging & Community with New Buddy Bench
Eva and Presley are two students at Clearmont Elementary School who want to make sure everyone feels included, and they knew just the way to help do this: donating a Buddy Bench, a designated spot where students can sit to signal to others they need a friend, for the school’s playground.
When they brought the idea to their principal, Mrs. Monika Farfan, she thought it would be the perfect addition to their school.
“Projects like this directly support our school’s commitment to empathy, inclusion, and community,” said Mrs. Farfan. “The Buddy Bench aligns with our social-emotional learning goals by giving students a real-world tool to practice perspective-taking, build relationships, and support one another. It reflects our belief that students play an active role in creating a positive school culture, and their voices matter in shaping that environment.”
Taking that active role, Eva and Presley set out to help their school community and make the bench a reality by hosting a lemonade stand over the summer to raise money for the bench. The stand featured bracelets for customers to purchase too.
Many pitchers of lemonade later, and the girls raised almost $700 for Clearmont’s Buddy Bench. They also received a donation to cover the remaining cost.
This week, the bench was officially installed at Clearmont. When reflecting on how the Buddy Bench will help students, Eva said, “We hope that it makes people feel less lonely and makes new friends and also to inspire them to do good things for their school or their community.”
Mrs. Farfan added, “I hope students learn that kindness is something we practice every day, not just in words, but in action. I want them to recognize that reaching out to someone sitting on the Buddy Bench can make a meaningful difference. I also hope they see that asking for help or connection is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
And for those who want to make a difference at their school or in their community, Presley shared good advice, “Follow what you think is right. We didn’t have the whole plan, but we got started and followed our hearts.”
We’re so proud of Eva and Presley and are grateful for donating the Buddy Bench. It will help ensure that no child is left out and reinforce that our playground is a place where everyone belongs, for many years to come.
