One of our Year 6 students, would like to share how Milford School’s caring culture and our fabulous 'Friendship Seat' has had an impact on another school in Tauranga. This is Lily's interview with her cousin, Lucy who is in Year 5.

How did you learn about a friendship seat?In the Easter school holidays earlier this year I went to a STEM with M day at Milford School with you Lily, and saw your school’s friendship seat.

What did you think about it?I thought, that’s a cool idea, we need one for our school, Te Puna Primary, because there are lots of people who sit on their own at our school and don’t have an easy way to make friends. 

What was your idea for how to get a friendship seat for your school?I’m in a choir and I like singing, and my choir teacher said I’m really good, so I decided to busk to raise money for a friendship seat. I made a poster explaining what I was busking for, and borrowed the equipment, and set myself up on the main road at Whangamata in the September school holidays. 

Wow! What strengths did you need, to do this?I needed to be brave, I needed people to support me, I also needed to be happy because it helps you feel less nervous. Did you feel nervous?At first I was quite nervous, and then a girl stopped and sang a song with me and that made me happy so I carried on. I sang for 3 hours. 

3 hours! Wow! How much money did you raise? I raised $405. There was one guy who walked past 3 times and put money in each time he walked by.

Is that enough to make a friendship seat for your school?It will cost $300 to buy the materials and the rest of the money will be used for paint and to engrave the seat with the name ‘friendship seat’. The caretaker at my school is going to use his time for free to make it. 

What colour will you paint it?I’m going to paint it pastel colours like green, blue, purple and pink because pastel colours are calm, and a rainbow on the back because rainbows make me happy.What does your school think?All my teachers keep coming up to me saying I’ve done a great job and I must be a very good singer. 

We have learner attributes at Milford School. I think you are a Risk-taker - you are so brave to busk in public! I think you are Principled - because it’s a really good thing you’re doing. And you are Caring - because you’re not doing it for yourself, you’re doing it for others. Ka pai Lucy! I’m so proud to be your cousin!