Acts, Words Of Kindness Celebrated At Northeast Elementary School

Simple acts and words of kindness were celebrated during an all-school assembly last week at Northeast Elementary School.

Earlier this year, students at Northeast were challenged to do kind things and say kind words to others in their classrooms. Northeast faculty member Elizabeth Jensen said the challenge was inspired by the efforts of Rachel’s Challenge, a national non-profit, non-political organization founded by the parents of Rachel Scott, the first student killed in the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. Among the organization’s primary goals are to reduce violence, school bullying and teen suicide.

Rachel’s father, Darrell Scott, established Rachel’s Challenge as a tribute to his daughter and the example she set for others.

“She lived by showing others kindness,” Jensen said.

A month before her death, Rachel Scott wrote a two-page “Code of Ethics” essay for a class assignment that stressed the importance of honesty and compassion.

“Compassion and honesty go hand in hand if enough of it is put into every situation,” the Columbine High School senior wrote. “Compassion is the greatest form of love humans have to offer.”

Rachel’s words are at the heart of the message shared by Darrell Scott and other speakers who address young people across the world. According to the organization’s website, Rachel’s Challenge has “delivered life-changing programs to over 30 million students, educators and parents since 2001.”

As part of the challenge at Northeast, each classroom was required to create a chain with one link added to the chain each time an act or word of kindness was observed. The classroom chains were linked together for presentation at the all-school assembly.

“All of the chains were connected,” Jensen said. “There were about 400 (links).”