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"BE ONE" BUDDY BENCH

A Program For Inclusivity at Meadow Lane Elementary 

Acknowledgements

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I would like to thank all the people who assisted me in this project for Meadow Lane Elementary School.  Without their help, my Girl Scout Gold Project would not have been possible. Thank you for your advice and for allowing me to work with the students- Mrs. Wendy Hooks-Principal.  Thank you to the Physical Education and Health department for being willing to promote and implement the lessons plans that support the “Be the One” Bench program at Meadow Lane Elementary. Thank you to Mrs. Michelle Gurley, Guidance Counselor,  for utilizing the book and lesson plans within her Guidance curriculum. Thank you to Mr. Paul Hayes for assisting and guiding me in the creation of this website. Thank you to all the classroom teachers who the use the website book and lesson plan within their own classrooms and for introducing new students to our “Be the One” benches.

Thank you to my Girl Scout Troop 249 leaders, Sissy Drake, Barbara Lewis and my mom, Michele Kornegay and sister scouts for your support, love and for making me the scout I am today. I love you all! A special thanks to my parents, Jeffrey and Michele and my brother, Evan, for always helping me, supporting my visions and providing guidance to help me achieve my goals.-Emily

About
Book
Bea’s First Day Jitters

By Emily Faircloth Kornegay

November 2018

Girl Scout Gold Award Project

Troop 249

Goldsboro, NC

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Bea rolled over and opened her eyes. “Wait, what happened to my……..” then she remembered, she wasn’t in HER ROOM!

 

Bea JUMPED out of bed, so ready to start her day.  This was the day she went to her NEW SCHOOL.

 

Bea’s family had moved to a new town. Bea’s dad was a soldier. They had lived lots of places and visited even more. Bea always felt lucky to have lived all over the world.

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Bea didn’t mind having to make new friends, that part came easy for her. There were only two things she didn’t like about moving…...

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Bea didn’t like her first day in a new lunch room or her first day on a new playground.

All the other places in a new school were ok. There were always people around and someone to work with.

But when it came to the playground at recess or the lunchroom, everyone already had their group.

At lunch, everyone seemed to have the friend they sat with. Lunch box kids sat with lunch box kids, hot lunch kids sat with who they went through the line with.

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At recess, some played kickball while others likes to swing. It was hard to fit into a new play group.
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Bea tried to forget the things that made her nervous and readied herself for her first day.

She packed up her favorite lunch- almond butter and strawberry sandwich, sliced cucumbers and string cheese.

She packed her new bookbag with a few sparkly pencils and a new notebook that had a fluffy kitten on the front. Her pretty school supplies always made her feel better. With her bags in tow, off she went to Meadow Lane Elementary.

Her new school was called Meadow Lane. It sat in the middle of a large, green field and was surrounded by lots of big, old trees. The school looked older than some of the schools she had been to before, but she knew what mattered was what was inside the building, the people. Bea and her mom entered the older lobby of the school. It was covered in bright colors and smiling faces.  

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The principal, Mrs. Hooks greeted Bea and offered to walk her to her classroom around the corner. All the students were saying “Good Morning” to each other and smiling. Bea thought to herself, “Hey, this doesn’t seem so scary”.

Mrs. Booker greeted them as the door opened. “Welcome, Bea” said Mrs. Booker, “We have been expecting you. I have your desk all ready with your lunch tag.”

Bea sat down and looked around the room. Everyone was smiling and quietly waving as she took it all in.

Mrs. Booker read a book to them, the class did their math lesson. Before Bea knew it, it was time for art. Bea loved art, it was her favorite subject. Mrs. Booker reminded the class to grab their jackets because they would go out for recess after art. This made Bea a little worried, but she quickly forgot about it once she had a paintbrush in her hand. Art always made her feel at home.

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Art class passed quickly and before Bea knew, Mrs. Booker was back at the door to take the class to recess. Suddenly, Bea began to feel nervous. “Who will I play with?” as she glanced around the room. Bea liked to swing but she didn’t like to do it alone.

As the students lined up, Mrs. Booker reminded the entire class about a special bench that was on the playground. It was called the “Be One” bench. As she explained, if you can’t find anyone that is playing a game that you want to play or if you are alone, go to the bench and have a seat. That is the clue to the other kids that you are feeling lonely or that you are looking to meet a new friend. “Be One” Bench rules are easy. “To have a friend you must be a friend”. If you see anyone on the bench, you must go sit with them or invite them to play. Bea wondered “does that REALLY work?”. She was hoping she would be asked to join a game BEFORE she had to find out THAT answer…...

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Everyone ran out to the playground, eager to get to their favorite activity first. Bea headed for the swings, hoping to find a friend that like to swing, too. Oh no! Bea realized she was too late! All the swings were taken! Fear crept in, “what do I do now?”. Bea stood there, looking around at all the others. One group of kids was playing a game with a small ball, bouncing it against the wall and running around. She watched but didn’t understand how to play that game, whatever it was called.  Bea spotted a group of girls from her class talking by the trees. Bea didn’t want to interrupt. Another group was running around the outside of the playground like fast gazelles. Bea didn’t think her dragon legs would let her run that fast and flying definitely was NOT allowed in school. After a few minutes Bea thought, “Hmmm, maybe I SHOULD try out this “Be One Bench”

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Bea slowly walked over to towards the bench, secretly hoping someone would jump off the swings and she would get a turn but everyone kept pumping their legs, swinging and giggling as their stomach did flip flops.

Bea sat down, reluctantly, feeling like everyone was staring at her. Bea felt a little embarrassed to be alone. Bea began to read the words written on the bench. “Be the one who is kind”, “ Be the one who smiles first”, “Be the one who cares”, “Be the one who includes other”, “ Be the one who makes others smile”. Bea giggled as she thought about how her name sounded like the name of the benches. As her mind wandered, she realized someone was tapping her on the shoulder.  It was one of the girls by the tree and they all came over to talk to her.

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The girls sat down on the bench with Bea and introduced themselves. “Hey, aren’t you Bea?” said the girl who tapped her shoulder. Bea shook her head yes. One by one the girls told Bea their name. They asked her all sorts of questions about her last school, her old house, all the places she lived, and about her family. They exchanged stories about where they had lived, their exasperating big brothers and annoying little sisters. When they found out Bea didn’t have any brother or sisters, they offered to give their’s away to her, which made them all laugh.

Just then, they heard a sharp BLLLEEETTTT of a whistle, recess was over. Mrs. Booker called them all to line up. One of the girls grabbed her hand and said “C’mon, if we all get in line together, we can sit beside each other at lunch!”

As Bea ran to the line, hand in hand with her new friends, she was smiling.  This was the best first day EVER!

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Bench Rules

BE ONE Bench RULES

Be One Bench Rules

If you’re sitting on the bench, play with the first classmate who invites you.

 

While you’re sitting on the bench, look around for a game you can join.

 

Two friends sitting on the bench can turn to each other and invite each other to play.

 

The bench isn’t for socializing. Only sit there if you can’t find anyone to play with.

 

When you see someone on the bench, ask that person to play with you. Keep playing with your new friends!

Misson

Mission

To create an environment of acceptance and inclusion to all students. To promote friendship to ensure that every students has a place and someone to play with on the playground. 

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