Need a Friend? Have a Seat on the Buddy Bench at Ramona Elementary

Students at Ramona Elementary in need of a friend now know just where to go to find one: the Buddy Bench. It looks like an ordinary bench facing the playground, but it's more than that. It's a refuge for children who are in special need of a friend or a helping hand, or maybe just a word of encouragement or someone to listen. The Buddy Bench is the work of counselor Tom Medina, who has also recruited an enthusiastic team of student mentors – seen here all over the bench. The first student who sits on the Buddy Bench is likely to end up with more friends than expected.