School project teaches hands-on skills to special needs students

Pepe Gariere says the Buddy Bench project is a chance for students to help other students – in more ways than one.

Built by special needs students at Bishop Gallagher and E.Q. Jennings schools, the benches will eventually find a home at Holy Cross School, where students feeling stressed or alone can use them to encourage teachers or other students to begin a friendly conversation or invite them to play.

Gariere, the principal at Holy Cross School, said the annual project was a fantastic idea.

“If someone is feeling alone or has no one to play with, or if they’re anxious or introverted, they sit on the bench and kids can come over and invite them to come over and play,” he said earlier this week as the benches were being constructed.

The project also reflects the ideals of the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board.

“We are one big family. So we have Bishop Gallagher and Bishop E.Q. Jennings students helping build these benches for Holy Cross students at our school,” Gariere said.

“So it’s a great way to bring our Catholic schools together.”

The students building the benches, part of the life skills class at the two elementary schools, there’s a sense of accomplishment and a valuable hands-on learning component.

“It’s kind of a real-world practice. They’re actually learning to build functional benches for schools and other kids in their community,” Gariere said.

“It’s hands-on learning and kids working to help out other kids, so you can’t get much more real world than that.”

Student Andria Lamers was busy pounding in nails and fastening screws, helping her classmates complete the project.

“It’s fun,” she said. “It nice to help build stuff for people.”