The Lafayette Parish School System would like to extend our gratitude to the Kiwanis of Lafayette for the donation and installation of 13 Buddy Benches at elementary schools throughout the city. Through Buddy Benches, students are able to communicate to their classmates that they are looking for someone to play with or talk to. By doing so, students have a tool to reduce bullying and develop positive relationships among peers. The installation of the benches this week is the result of the collaborative efforts of the Kiwanis and LPSS begun this past fall. Preliminary plans include placing Buddy Benches at the remaining elementary schools in the parish and possibly including the benches at middle schools in the future.