Published: April 22, 2008 04:25 pm            

GOOD THINGS: Group born out of “Rachel’s Challenge”

Starpoint students starting a chain reaction

Helping Hands



• SCHOOL: Starpoint Middle School

• ADVISER: Kelly Preisch

• WHAT THEY’RE ABOUT: Sixth, seventh and eighth graders who want to make a difference

• HOW MANY ARE IN: About 60 students split into five teams each led by an adviser



PENDLETON — Some middle school students at Starpoint are spreading a little kindness by leading a helping hand wherever they go.

A group of sixth, seventh and eighth graders known as “Helping Hands” are giving their time for charitable causes. The group was born out of a special assembly the school held to begin “Rachel’s Challenge.” Rachel’s Challenge, a national school outreach program for the prevention of teen violence, was named after Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine massacre in 1999. The assembly was to reinforce good behavior with the Starpoint kids.

“The whole message was to pass it on, pass a good deed on basically,” said James Bryer, Starpoint Middle School principal. “And so out of that assembly it turned into a few teachers volunteering to start Helping Hands, which is carrying on Rachel Scottís message.”

Shortly before her death, Scott wrote an essay for school that said, “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.” The purpose of Helping Hands is to do just that, to continue to do good things on a regular basis, Bryer said.

“Hopefully, theyíll continue this,” he added.

There are about 60 students involved with Helping Hands, and they are split into five groups. The groups are headed up by a volunteer, three teachers, the school resource officer and Kelly Preisch, a school counselor. The kids help where they can, usually by volunteering or raising money for charities.

“It’s like ‘Pay It Forward,’” Preisch said. “They try to make a chain reaction.”

She was referring to the movie starring Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment, where Osment’s character comes up with an idea to do a good deed for three people who in turn have to do the same for three other people.

One event Helping Hands has worked on is “Warm Wishes for the Holidays.” The kids collected new and gently used clothing for the YWCA. Preisch said the kids packed her Chevy Uplander with clothing, coats and boots.

Another one of the events Helping Hands is involved in is “Pennies for Patients” program for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The program gives students a chance to collect pennies, other spare change and other currency to raise funds to help local patients.

“They raised $500,” Preisch said. “And they volunteered to miss lunch. Thatís the type of kids we have just somebody who wants to make a difference.”

Helping Hands is getting ready for some projects in the spring. To help organize the large number of kids, each of the groups operates on their own. That doesn’t mean they don’t have a common goal. Just like what Rachel said, the Starpoint kids in Helping Hands want to pass a little compassion on.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick

at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

        

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