Westfield Middle School Girl Scouts Present 'Buddy Bench' To Shelter Rock School

From Westside Middle School: On Tuesday morning, four students from Westside Middle School who make up Girl Scout Troop 50011 presented a “Buddy Bench” to students at Shelter Rock School.

The girls – Julia Wiblishauser, Ani Krolian, Kaya Faysbender, Kaitlyn Klampert – earned a Girl Scout Silver Award, the GS second highest award, for building the bench. Two years ago they earned a Bronze Award for a community project. Their troop leader is Theresa Wiblishauser.

“These are my students at Westside that I had in sixth grade, and they are graduating eighth grade this year,” principal Dawn Bartz told the more than 500 Shelter Rock elementary school students gathered in the school gymnasium to hear the girls’ presentation.

After the presentation, one student from each class gathered in the school’s courtyard for the unveiling of the colorfully painted bench. The bench was designed, built and painted by the four girls and is a place where children can find friendship, said Bartz. The benches are part of the district’s “Start with Hello” anti-bullying campaign sponsored by Sandy Hook Promise.

“This bench is so you are not always alone,” said Ani. Bartz said the bench is a nice addition to the school improvement projects. “It certainly fits well with the Start with Hello and Principal’s Pins’ initiatives at the school,” Bartz said. “I hope that classes will be able to use the courtyard soon for reading or writing, even math, activities.”

The Principal’s Pins are pins “of excellence” designed by students to represent the school. What started as an art project morphed into part of the Start with Hello program. The pins are given to students who display the school values of community, compassion, character and courage.

Image Courtesy of Westside MS