On Friday, August 15 at 4 PM, the newly renovated Goldwood Primary School playground will officially open. Goldwood student Liam Mosback (entering Kensington next year) will cut the ribbon. Liam won a school-wide raffle in which every Goldwood student received a free ticket and extras were available to purchase.
The ribbon-cutting will be just one element of the day’s celebration. The Rocky River High School Pep Band is scheduled to play, and treats will be available to purchase from an ice-cream truck.
In addition to new equipment, the Goldwood Primary School playground has a new bench—a very special one. The Buddy Bench is a bright, inviting bench that’s made of durable, recycled plastic. It’s a conflict-resolution bench, explains Goldwood counselor Anne George.
“Kids are allowed to hang out on it if they want, but it’s really a tool. It’s got two purposes—if you’re lonely you can sit on it and the student body’s job is to come over and connect with you. Or if you’re having trouble with a friend,” she continues, “you can sit here together and resolve your conflict.”
The bench has been inside Goldwood for several weeks, and George has already seen it do its job. She explains, “I heard one girl say, while sitting on it with a friend, ‘I think this bench is magic ’cause I feel better already.’”
The Buddy Bench is a European idea that has caught on. A variety of organizations fund them, and this one was procured through Kill it with Kindness, a Canadian anti-bullying organization started by two sisters. Every bench is unique, and they are donated to groups who request them.
George explains that a PTA mom heard about the group and told her about it. George requested a bench, and the group was thrilled to give her the first bench of theirs that ended up in the US. The bench was free with a contribution for the next group who ordered one, in a “pay-it-forward” structure. “The PTA and other donors contributed to Kill it With Kindness so they could make more benches for other schools,” George explains.
The dilemma of getting the bench to Goldwood was solved when the Quasar family, who has three students in the district, offered to help. Mark Quasar brought the bench back to Rocky River with him after a business trip to Toronto. “He even kept it in his garage,” George marvels. “It’s really been a community effort.”
The entire new Goldwood playground has been a community effort as well, and August 15 is the day to start celebrating.