Supported by the district’s Shared Decision Making Committee, Harley Avenue Primary School welcomed the addition of a buddy bench to its schoolyard.

Last year, first-grade student RJ Calanese developed the concept of the buddy bench, which offers students a place to gather and make new friends. This spring, the bench was installed and a contest was held for second-grade students to design a plaque that would hang above it. The Shared Decision Making Committee collectively voted on four students’ artwork and encouraged the second-grade contest winners —Calanese, Joseph Matranga, Ellie Mitola and Grace Shepard — to work together, under the advisement of reading teacher Mrs. Parker, to design one plaque.

After combining their individual design ideas, the art piece was transformed into a plaque and is now hung above the bench.