Goodrich-The acts of kindness were diverse, simple and random.
‘I cleaned my room without being asked,? ‘I paid for the person’s food behind us at the drive thru,? ‘A kid in my math class was crying because he did not have a partner so I promised him I’d always be his partner if he needed one.?
The acts were also very plentiful?8,140 to be exact’each one hand-written on eight-and-a-half inch strips of paper, stapled and linked together spanning about one quarter of a mile or one lap of the track around a football field.
GHS Senior Kyle Gavulic made that calculation after spearheading a drive to encourage students from the preschool though high school to participate in a segment of The Rachel’s Challenge program, a district-wide anti-bullying initiative started earlier this year.
‘Every link is an act of kindness,? said Gavuilc. ‘I started the project Sept. 14, put the project together on Friday. Each classroom had their own chain that are stapled together.?
Gavuilc created two short act of kindness videos? one geared toward Reid Elementary kids and one for Oaktree Elementary, middle school and high school students.
‘The message was, ‘You can be a hero by being a friend,?? he said. ‘The response was outstanding.?
Gavulic, who leads the Friends of Rachel, or FOR Club, named after Rachel Joy Scott. Scott, 17, was the first of 12 students and one teacher killed at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. on April 20, 1999, the result of a shooting rampage. Just weeks before her death Rachel wrote, ‘I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go.?
Rachel’s thoughts, more than 16 years after the tragedy of Columbine, gripped the nation, changing school life for students, teachers and parents and continue to impact students who are different, who are picked on by others, or who are new at school. The elements of the school challenge are aimed at creating a culture of kindness and compassion in addition to equipping students and adults with resources to insure schools are safe, caring and supportive learning environments? key for academic achievement.
Every other week Gavulic leads a group of about 30 to 40 students that meet for the FOR Club.
‘Over the last year I’ve noticed that students are impacted, by making them think twice before acting and being more aware of others,? he said. ‘The middle school students have changed the most? they are more assertive and have really grown.?