Sunrise Elementary student artists accept Rachel’s Challenge | Slideshow

Sunrise Elementary School second-grader Olivia Torrie purses her lips and thinks carefully about what she’s learned from participating in the school’s Rachel’s Challenge Through the Arts Program.

By Andy Nystrom • March 21, 2013 5:30 pm
Sunrise Elementary School assistant Jayleen Ryberg checks out the sixth-graders’ artwork on Tuesday night at the school’s fifth annual art night. The school’s Rachel’s Challenge Through the Arts Program focuses on showing compassion for others. In the photo
Sunrise Elementary School assistant Jayleen Ryberg checks out the sixth-graders’ artwork on Tuesday night at the school’s fifth annual art night. The school’s Rachel’s Challenge Through the Arts Program focuses on showing compassion for others. In the photo



Sunrise Elementary School second-grader Olivia Torrie purses her lips and thinks carefully about what she’s learned from participating in the school’s Rachel’s Challenge Through the Arts Program.

“To be nice to others,” she answers and nods her head in a yes motion when asked if that kindness has caught on with her classmates at school.

On Tuesday night, a host of Sunrise first- through sixth-graders and their parents joined staff members for the fifth annual art night, which featured many pieces focused on the Rachel’s Challenge theme.

Darrel and Sandy Scott started the program in honor of Rachel, who was the first student killed in the Colorado Columbine High School shootings in 1999. Rachel’s father and stepmother took her inspired writings and drawings to heart, especially her message about students being bullied, teased and harassed at school: “I have this theory that if one can go out of their way to show compassion, it will start a chain reaction of the same.”

Speaking of chains, Nicki Foran, Sunrise PTA co-president, said that since October, students have been writing others’ good deeds on pieces of paper and forming chains that have taken up loads of classroom space. Olivia proudly said that her classroom has “eight-hundred and 20-something” links.

At the 100-day mark of Rachel’s Challenge, Foran said they measured how long each classroom’s chains were: they amounted to more than 450 feet, almost to the height of the Smith Tower in Seattle. The chains are longer now, and the students are shooting to have their chains be the same height as the Space Needle’s observation deck (520 feet).

“We’re trying to challenge them to keep doing good acts,” said Foran, noting that the students’ artwork was filled with positive words — like “wanted,” “welcome” and “important” — to keep spirits high.

“The main message we’re trying to get across from Rachel’s Challenge is to stand up for your friends and stand up for people you don’t know,” Foran said. “If you see something going on, just put a good spin on it and bring them out of the bad.”